Photo © 2005 R. Hays Cummins. All rights reserved

Daddy Longlegs

Our Daddy Longlegs have been active all summer, of course, but by August all of our species have matured and are out seeking mates to ensure the next generation's survival, making them extremely conspicuous. In Europe (and occasionally here) they're called Harvestmen because, like our species, they're most conspicuous at harvest time. And while they may look like spiders these large, conspicuous invertebrates are more closely related to the ticks and mites.

Daddy Longlegs begin their lives in spring when their eggs - laid in narrow crevices or buried in the soil - hatch. While practically blind these creatures compensate with an exquisite sense of touch and smell which they use to pursue their prey - which is almost anything smaller than themselves - and their mates. Their easily detached legs - along with their noxious smell - keep most predators at bay. Throughout their lives they spend the hottest part of each day concealed in some cool moist shelter where they're safe from dessication.

While recent rumor has it that these creatures possess a toxic venom there's no science to back this up since, so far as is known, no one has ever collected enough venom to test. Daddy Longlegs do possess minute venom glands but their jaws are tiny and present a danger only to creatures smaller than themselves.

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