Several spider species use plants as shelter and foraging sites, but the relationships among these organisms are still poorly known. Lynx spiders of the genus Peucetia do not build webs, and many species live strictly in plants bearing glandular trichomes. Peucetia flava Keyserling 1877 inhabits Solanum thomasiifolium in southeastern Brazil and usually preys on herbivores and other small insects adhered to the glandular trichomes of its host plant. To evaluate the potential anti-herbivore protection of this spider species for S. thomasiifolium, we glued termites used as herbivore models on trichomes of S. thomasiifolium and on neighboring plants lacking glandular trichomes. Leaf miner damage and spider density were recorded for S. thomasiifolium plants in July 1997. There was a positive relationship between plant size and spider density. The removal of termites in S. thomasiifolium by P. flava was higher than in plants without glandular trichomes. The leaf miner damage was negatively related to spider density. Our results suggest that P. flava may be an important plant bodyguard in the defense of S. thomasiifolium from its natural herbivores.