There is a lot of confusion about Daddy Long Legs. People disagree about whether they are spiders, whether they are venomous, and whether you should call for spider removal if you have them in your home. Most of the confusion probably stems from the fact that there are several different species that can be referred to as Daddy Long Legs.

Are Daddy Long Legs Insects or Spiders?

It depends on the creature you are referring to as Daddy Long Legs. The crane fly is an insect referred to as Daddy Long Legs in some parts of the world, particularly Britain and the southeastern United States. There is a long-legged spider, Pholcus phalangioides, also known as a cellar spider, that is sometimes referred to as Daddy Long Legs. However, when most people talk about Daddy Long Legs, they are talking about harvestmen, which are arachnids but not true spiders.

Are Daddy Long Legs Venomous?

None of the species referred to as Daddy Long Legs are known to bite humans or pose a threat to them. Crane flies and harvestmen do not have any venom. Cellar spiders, like most other spiders, do have venom, but it is not toxic to humans.

How Are Harvestmen Different From Spiders?

Harvestmen and spiders are similar in that they are both arachnids that have eight legs, putting them in the same class as mites, ticks, and scorpions. However, that’s basically where the similarity ends. Spiders and harvestmen belong to different taxonomic orders. Spiders belong to the order Araneae, while harvestmen are in the order Opiliones.

Harvestmen have several significant physical differences from true spiders:

• Harvestmen don’t have silk and can’t spin webs
• Harvestmen only have one pair of eyes, while spiders have three or four pairs
• Harvestmen have one body section with a segmented abdomen; spiders have two body sections but no segmentation

Instead of true fangs used to inject venom, harvestmen have chelicerae, fang-like mouthparts that they use for grasping and chewing their food. Harvestmen are not known to bite humans.

Why Do Some Harvestmen Have Six Legs?

Part of the confusion over whether harvestmen are insects or arachnids stems from the fact that it is not uncommon to see one wandering around with only six or seven legs. This is because of a defense mechanism that helps harvestmen escape from predators. Their long, spindly legs detach from their bodies easily, meaning that if a predator gets ahold of one of the legs, it can detach, allowing the harvestman to get away, none the worse for wear. The detached leg helps distract the predator by twitching for up to an hour, convincing the predator that the hunt was successful.

What Do Harvestmen Eat?

Harvestmen feed on spiders and insects. They are ambush predators, meaning that they lie in wait until prey gets close enough to catch, and then they strike. Given the choice, harvestmen prefer live prey, but if none is available, they can scavenge on insect eggs, dead insects, and decaying plant material.

Are Harvestmen Helpful or Harmful?

Harvestmen in your home can be kind of annoying, but they do not do any property damage or pose any health threat to humans or pets. The worst they might do is tickle you if they run over your skin. From a certain perspective, harvestmen are actually beneficial because they eat spiders and garden pests like aphids.

However, harvestmen probably wouldn’t be in your home if there was nothing for them to eat. Therefore, their presence indicates that there may be spiders or insect pests lurking nearby.

Spider Removal and Four Seasons Pest Control

While harvestmen and other “Daddy Long Leg” species are harmless, some spiders can pose a threat to you and your family. Find out more about Truly Nolen’s Four Seasons Solution, which helps to keep spiders and other pests out of your home throughout the year.