Its length can range from about 0.6 to 23 mm (0.02 to 0.9 inch), though the bodies of most species are between 3 and 7 mm (0.12 and 0.28 inch).
It appears to be part of several peculiarly mutated arachnids that have been discovered in the area, though no compelling explanation for the “gigantism” has been found. At 13 inches, the new discovery is just short of the 13.4-inch record for a harvestman, set by a specimen found in South America.
They live two to seven years unless stepped on. They groom themselves by sliding one leg at a time through their mouth, a practice called “leg threading.”
A species of spider called Pholcus phalangioides which is found in cellars, basements and dark corners of houses. It's also called the Daddy Long Legs spider or Cellar spider.
Not considered pests, these arachnids are harmless to people and pets and beneficial to the environment. You can help return daddy longlegs to their rightful place by picking them up and placing them outside or gently sweeping them outside with a broom.
On the first, research has shown that daddy long legs venom is actually not exceptionally potent, even to insects. On the second, if it chooses to inject its venom into human skin it has the capacity to do so, a result that was famously demonstrated on an episode of Mythbusters in 2004.
A gentle pinch is enough to trigger an internal system that discharges the leg. It's a way to stay alive in the wild if something is trying to devour the bug's limb. Whether it hurts is up for debate, but most scientists think not, given the automatic nature of the defense mechanism.
This habit makes the daddy longlegs rather unpopular with gardeners who can find their flying invasion leaves bare patches of grass.
What about their fangs being too short to penetrate human skin? Pholcids do indeed have short fangs, which in arachnological terms is called "uncate" because they have a secondary tooth which meets the fang like the way the two grabbing parts of a pair of tongs come together.
The Daddy-long-legs Spider feeds on insects and other spiders.
Tip for preventing daddy long legs: Pour 1 cup white vinegar and 1/3 cup vanilla extract into a spray bottle and shake. Spray areas where the daddy long legs have been spotted indoors and out. The smell will repel the insects.
Daddy Long Legs
But like common household spiders, you should leave these guys alone if you spot them in your house. They aren't poisonous to humans and basically couldn't even really bite us (their mouths are too small). They prefer eating fruit and other insects, which they'll happily catch and rid your home of.
There's been a myth floating around for a long time that daddy long legs are one of the most poisonous spiders, but their fangs are too short to penetrate human skin. For the record, this is completely false. In fact, daddy long legs don't have venom glands or fangs at all. They pose no threat to people whatsoever.
The most common Phlocidae in the United States is the long-bodied cellar spider. Because of their long legs, cellar spiders are often mistaken for daddy longlegs.
The daddy longlegs is actually a large type of cranefly, of which there are 94 species in the UK. It is familiar to us in its adult form as the gangly insect that flits around our homes in summer. As a larva, it is a grey grub (also known as a 'leatherjacket') that lives underground, feeding on plants stems and roots.
Food sources: Daddy long legs feed on decaying plant matter and small invertebrates, so if you have a lot of dead leaves or other organic matter around your home, this can attract them. They may also be attracted to areas with a lot of insects, as these are a food source for many species.
"They're not looking for shelter, they're out looking for a mate and then looking to lay eggs, they end up in houses because their favourite habitat is short grass and we have lawns." Daddy long legs lay eggs in the ground which can sit for a year. They grow, hatch out of the shell and pop out of your lawn.
The Australian funnel-web spiders (families Hexathelidae, Atracidae, Macrothelidae and Porrhothelidae), such as the Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustus (a mygalomorph spider not to be confused with the araneomorph funnel-weaver or grass spiders) are regarded as among the most venomous in the world.
The daddy long-legs is originally from subtropical Asia but, having accompanied humans in their global spread, the species is now found throughout the world in warm locations, including across Australia.
Sexual dimorphism (difference in appearance between males and females) can be seen in various species of daddy longlegs. Differences may occur, for example, in the size and characteristics of chelicerae, pedipalps, and other structures. In a few species, males are smaller than females.
While they have eight legs and an outward appearance of a spider, daddy-longlegs lack two of the most important features that make a spider a spider: silk production and venom. Daddy-longlegs do not have spinnerets that spiders have to produce silk and make webs.
Leg loss is a common phenomenon in spiders, and according to the species 5% to 40% of the adults can present at least one missing leg. There is no possibility of regeneration after adult moult and the animal must manage with its missing appendages until its death.
It is rare for harvestmen to be found in homes, and because they are nocturnal, being most active at night, they can be difficult to detect.
Living harvestmen—a group of arachnids commonly known as daddy longlegs—have a single pair of eyes. Harvestman living today—commonly known as daddy longlegs—have a single pair of eyes. This harvestman's right eye is the black spot near the front of its body.