Harvestman (also known as Daddy Longlegs)
Order Opiliones (Species unknown, likely Phalangium opilio or Leiobunum sp.) · Arachnid. Invertebrate. Cold-blooded. Wild.
Animal Family
Family Phalangiidae, Order Opiliones, Class Arachnida
Animal Category
Insect/Arthropod (Technically Arachnid)
Breed / Variety
Distinguished from true spiders by its single, fused body segment (cephalothorax and abdomen are joined widely) and lack of silk or venom glands.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by IUCN, but generally considered abundant and 'Least Concern' globally. Threats include habitat destruction and heavy pesticide use.
About This Creature
Small, oval-bodied arachnid, usually 1-10mm in body length with extremely long, thin legs that can span up to 10cm. Coloring is typically mottled brown, tan, or grey to aid in camouflage against bark and soil.
Physical Characteristics
Single fused body unit (no 'waist'); two eyes located on a central bump (ocularium); eight long, delicate legs; chelicerae (mouthparts) used for grasping rather than piercing. No spinnerets and no venom sacs.
Behavior & Temperament
Solitary but sometimes clusters for warmth/humidity. Nocturnal or crepuscular. They exhibit 'autotomy' (self-amputation of legs) to escape predators. They are non-aggressive and harmless to humans.
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
Global distribution; found on every continent except Antarctica. Extremely common in North America and Europe.
Habitat
Forest, Grassland, Urban/Suburban gardens, and Agricultural areas. Terrestrial and often found on vertical surfaces or in leaf litter.
Diet & Nutrition
Omnivorous and opportunistic scavengers. They eat small insects, mites, spiders, decaying plant matter, fungi, and sometimes animal carcasses. They have a 'chew and swallow' digestive process unlike spiders.
Lifespan & Health
Typically 1 year (annual cycle) in temperate regions. Females lay eggs in soil during autumn; eggs hatch in spring. Predators include birds, frogs, larger spiders, and small mammals.
Special Characteristics
Possess stink glands (ozopores) that secrete a foul-smelling fluid to deter predators. Known for the myth that they are the most venomous spiders in the world; this is false as they are not even spiders and have no venom.
Ecological Information
Generalist predators and scavengers that assist in nutrient cycling and natural pest control in gardens and forests. They occupy a middle-tier position in the terrestrial invertebrate food web.