Description

Found in temperate climates, this animal is related to spiders, but is not a true spider. A true spider has two body parts, a cephalothorax and an abdomen.

The Eastern Daddy Longlegs has just one flat, oval body part. They are about 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch long. They have eight legs that are extremely long in comparison to the size of the body.

The Daddy Longlegs moves about on the tips of the legs as if walking on stilts. The name Harvestman comes from the fact that they are seen in great numbers in the fall of the year.

Habitat

Harvestmen and Daddy Longlegs are found throughout North America. They prefer to live in leaf foliage, on the trunks of trees, and in shrubbery.

They often congregate in large numbers, particularly in the fall of the year.

Food

Daddy Longlegs feed on live or dead insects and invertebrates such as flies, aphids, snails, and earthworms. They also feed on decaying vegetation.

They are nocturnal and do their scavenging for food at night.

Defense

Harvestmen have the ability to break off a leg if threatened. The leg will continue to twitch in front of the predator while the Harvestman escapes.

Some species have stink glands that release an unpleasant odor that repels predators, but they do not have any venom.

Since they resemble spiders, the Daddy Longlegs "mimics" the characteristics of an insect predator. If disturbed, it will wave its second pair of legs in the air.