Are you really waltzing with a spider?
Even if spiders make you shudder, it’s hard not to smile at that long-legged creature bouncing along like a button suspended on silk rubber bands. Whether you’re watching a garden floor show featuring a cast of dozens or enjoying a solo performance, this interesting insect’s name stays the same: daddy long legs. Is he really everything he appears to be?
What Is He?
While daddy long legs belongs to the Arachnid class of insects, your friendly biologist will explain that this little guy is actually a non-insect anthropod belonging to the order Opiliones. Also called a harvestman, this special species has a single body unit and only two eyes. Daddy long legs doesn’t spin silk or weave webs, and he doesn’t produce venom. Officially, he isn’t a spider, but don’t tell him that you’re on to his secret, and don’t believe all the crazy stories you’ve heard about him.
Tall Spider Tales
Knowing that he’s not venomous takes some sting out of a favorite daddy long legs myth. Rumor has it that he’s the most poisonous spider in Texas, but his fangs are too short for delivering a fatal bite. This isn’t true because he’s simply not built with the right equipment. When he raises a leg in the air, he’s not pointing in the direction of lost cattle, and killing him won’t make it rain the next day. Daddy long legs doesn’t deserve his weird reputation, but has he earned it by accident?
Long-Legged Facts
Stories about his deadly bite might come from daddy long legs’ unpleasant odor and odd mouth. He has tiny claws instead of fangs, and his arresting aroma is a natural defense. Those waving legs operate like antennae for foraging, and they snap off and twitch when a predator attacks. However, they aren’t effective for locating stray cattle. Because he hides away from rainy weather, your best chance for smashing daddy long legs always comes on a sunny day. Still, there’s no correlation between his sudden demise and ending a drought.
Daddy long legs is a wonderful creature, and he’s harmless to people, pets and gardens. If his less desirable cousins try to take over your home, you might need professional pest control. We can help you make the right call here at ABC Home & Commercial Services, so contact our friendly Bryan-College Station staff for more information. We’re always happy to separate pest facts from fiction.