The term "Daddy Long Leg" is probably one of the most common word associated with bugs that really doesn't mean anything. When the word is used, the user is probably referring to one of these three arthropods. The trio includes: Crane Fly (Particularly the Giant Crane Fly),
Havestmen (Most commonly referred to), and Cellar Spiders (Particularly
Pholcus phalangioides). Now, I think it is time to "Reveal" all three.
Lets start
with the
Harvestmen. These arthropods are, in my opinion, the most commonly referred to when someone says "Daddy Long Leg". These creatures are commonly mistaken for spiders, because of the way they move and that they have eight legs. One of the easiest ways to tell that it is not a spider is that its abdomen and
cephalothorax are nearly completely fused together, which means the
Harvestmen appears to only have one body part. In a spider however, it is very easy to tell that there are two body parts.
Harvestmen are not aggressive, and if provoked enough to bite will perhaps sting for a few seconds, and then have no lasting effects. Most
Havestmen are omnivores, eating a variety of things. If someone or something were to break off one of the
Havestmen's legs, the leg would continue moving for about two minutes. (The longest was two hours.) This occurs because there are pacemakers located in the top segment of the
Havestmens legs. The pacemaker sends signals via nerves down to the muscles of the leg, causing it to move. Scientists hypothesize that this is a defensive reflex, and will keep the attacker interested in the leg, and allow the
Havestmen to escape. There is also a legend that states that
Harvestmen have the most deadly venom of any spider, but their fangs are to small to pierce the skin. This is incorrect because
Havestmen have no venom, and their fangs do have the ability to pierce our skin. Hope this has taught you about the
Havestmen, keep reading bellow for the Cellar Spider.
Now lets move on to the
Pholcus phalangioides, the kind of Cellar Spider that people usually refer to.
These Cellar Spiders tend to live in rotting logs, in caves, and in the basements and Cellars of peoples' houses. They can also be found in public restrooms, or honey buckets. These spiders are also the targets of an urban legend. The legend is that the Cellar Spider has the most deadly venom of any spider, but their fangs are two small to pierce our skin. (This same legend also is applied to
Harvestmen, mentioned above.) This legend is untrue for both arachnids, because their fangs can pierce our skin, and the Cellar Spiders' venom has little to no effect on humans. Also, these spiders are not aggressive, and prefer to flee farther up their web then fight off the threat. Cellar Spiders are also considered beneficial, because they are known to kill and eat Black Widows. The Cellar Spider is also called the Vibrating Spider, because it is known to shake its web and itself violently, confusing potential predators and helping the spider catch other insect. Hope this has informed you about
Pholcus phalangioides, also known as the Cellar Spider. Read on to find out about the Crane Fly.
Finally, we come
to the Crane Fly. When most people see a Crane Fly they think "Look out, its a Giant Mosquito!". This notion is incorrect. Crane Flies do not suck peoples blood, and do not carry any deadly diseases. These giant flies are
attracted to bright light, so you may see one flying close to a lamp or light. The Giant Crane Fly is the biggest fly in the world. Though this may not be known, the
same myth that
applies to the
Harvestmen and Cellar Spider (The myth is that the
Harvestmen or Cellar Spider has the most deadly venom of any spider.) also applies to the Crane Fly. This myth is incorrect because the Crane Fly has no venom, and could not pierce human flesh, because the adult Crane Flies either drink nectar, or do not feed at all. The Crane Fly is a common snack to many birds, as well as other bugs. The legs of a Crane Fly are very fragile, and may break with little contact. This allows them to sometimes get away from birds, which find them easy prey because they are poor fliers. Hope this has
taught you about the Crane Fly.
That is the end to our little adventure into the world of the bugs we call "Daddy Long Legs". Keep on the look out for more animals "Revealed".
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Spiders, Bugs, House Spiders, Giant House Spiders, Spider Pets, Spider Identification, Spider Habitat, Insects, Entomology, Camel Spiders,
Solifugae, Sun Spider, Wind Scorpion, Assassin Spider, Crane Fly, Daddy Long Leg,
Harvestmen, Cellar Spiders, Daddy Long Legs
biologist who dicovered and named a trap door spider after Neil Young, would be naming another species of tap door spider after Stephen Colbert. The official scientific name is Aptostichus stephencolberti, with the last "T" being silent, as Colbert also has a silent "T". The spider its self is found in the sand dunes from the Big Sur area to the San Francisco peninsula at Point Lobos.
