Really, is there no other possible nickname? Image credits: Brett Hondow
All 3 of these daddy long legs are found all over the world and prevail in houses. Now you understand what they really are!
They take good care of their long legs. Daddy long legs practice a technique called “leg threading”, in which they groom themselves by moving one leg at a time through their mouth.
Unlike spiders, harvestmen are quite social– its not unusual to discover them in big groups. However, not that much is understood about their social habits, because theyre so hard to study in the wild.
On a side note
Crane flies are likewise informally referred to as daddy longlegs because– you thought it– they have long legs. Although they look like huge mosquitos, the majority of the adults live for such a brief time (just to recreate) that they dont eat anything.
The not-spider
Although they have eight legs, daddy longlegs are not spiders. Image credits: Mehran Moghtadai.
People typically confuse spiders and daddy long legs, approximately the point where the 2 ended up being practically synonymous, and all spiders are called “daddy.” The fact that both types of animals are also arachnids contributes to the confusion. Nevertheless, there are significant distinctions between them.
The animals most frequently described as daddy longlegs are not spiders. They come from an order called Opiliones and are likewise called harvestmen.
They are likewise arachnids but are more carefully associated to scorpions than to spiders– basically, they remain in the same large group of animals as spiders, however theyre not really spiders. Scorpions, ticks, and other creatures such as ricinulei also belong to the same group.
Initially glimpse, they look precisely like spiders– however the long-legged harvestmen or daddy long legs are not technically spiders– although they belong. As if their appearances werent complicated sufficient already, it ends up that someone wasnt really creative when naming little animals with long legs, and caused a great deal of confusion with their names
While they appear similar to spiders, many qualities separate Opiliones from spiders. For starters, Opiliones simply have two eyes, instead of the spiders numerous, intricate eyes. They likewise can not produce silk– and therefore dont make webs (although contrary to another misconception, not all spiders make webs).
Daddy long legs also do not have venom glands– and except for 2 small groups, all spiders have glands that they use to produce and release venom. This is a significant distinction in between the two, as venomous spiders can be hazardous to people. Meanwhile, harvestmen are not thought about hazardous to people as they arent venomous. In reality, not just are they considered safe, however theyre considered useful as they play a crucial function in managing lots of pest populations.
Only two eyes! Image credits: Gordon.
That should help solve most confusions– alas, theres always a catch.
While they seem similar to spiders, quite a few qualities separate Opiliones from spiders. They likewise can not produce silk– and for that reason do not make webs (although contrary to another myth, not all spiders make webs).
Daddy long legs likewise lack venom glands– and other than for 2 small groups, all spiders have glands that they use to produce and launch venom. This is where it actually gets confusing: there is likewise a spider called the daddy longlegs spider. Cellar spiders have normal spider features, like six or eight eyes and 2 distinct body segments.
The spider that is daddy long legs
This is where it actually gets complicated: there is also a spider called the daddy longlegs spider. They are likewise called cellar spiders. They are pale grey or tan and can have markings such as banding or chevron markings. Cellar spiders have typical spider functions, like six or eight eyes and 2 unique body sections. They produce silk and construct an unpleasant irregular web in corners. The threads are not sticky but are used to inform the spider when the prey has hit the web.
It has long legs, however its not daddy long legs– its in fact a spider. Image credits: Olaf Leillinger
Some daddy long legs facts
Daddy long legs live for about 1-2 years, which is reasonably long compared to a lot of their arachnid loved ones. In fact, some species can live up to 7 years, or even beyond.
Unlike male spiders and scorpions that have “fake” penises (usually, customized legs that move sperm to women), most harvestmen have correct penises– and they evolved this a very long time back, as highlighted by this amber fossil of a daddy long legs baring its manhood, from 99 million years back. In fact, the types progressed at least 400 million years earlier, prior to the age of the dinosaurs.