Order Opiliones - Harvestmen

English: Daddy-long-legs/Daddy-longlegs/Daddy Long-legs, Granddaddy-long-legs, Harvest Spiders, Shepherd Spiders, Phalangids, Opilionids; French: faucheux, opilions; German: Weberknechte.

Opiliones Sundevall 1833

The common "Harvestman" name is because they are frequently encountered under trees during the harvest season.(1)

>6600 species worldwide arranged into ~45 families of 4 suborders (of which Laniatores is by far the largest, with >4100 species)(2)(3)(4)

body from millimeters to centimeters

Easily separated from spiders by the broad fusion of the two body segments, so that the body appears to be composed of a singular segment. Harvestmen do not possess silk glands, and can't spin webs. Unlike spiders, harvestmen lack venom glands associated with their chelicerae (mouthparts). Uniquely among the arachnids fertilization is direct: males of most taxa possess a penis (also referred to in the literature as pene, aedagus or intromittent organ).

Almost all long-legged harvestmen observed "wandering" or exposed in habitats, either during daylight hours or at night, will represent members of the suborder Eupnoi. The most conspicuous/photographed taxa in North America include members of the Phalangiidae & Sclerosomatidae (Leiobunum in particular).

Global, except Antarctica(3)

forests, grasslands, wetlands, mountains, caves, chaparral, and anthropogenic habitats

"Daddy-long-legs" are not likely to be found in winter months in northern/montane regions, except as overwintering populations in refugia (e.g., caves). However, many of the small-bodied reclusive taxa are only winter active.

Carnivorous, feeding on a variety of small arthropods

Egg, juvenile, adult. Most reproduce sexually (direct fertilization, males possess a penis); a handful parthenogenetically (i.e., without males).

Although often mistaken for spiders, these arachnids are more closely related to scorpions(3)

In some cases, in dry climates, they gather in large numbers during the day, probably to avoid dessication, and wander about in search of food after the sun goes down.

Photo taken in Sierra Madre, Mexico

Opiliones have a chemical defense from glands at the base of the front legs.(1)

The exceptionally long second pair of legs are used in place of antennae.(5)

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MYTH BUSTER ... "Stop the Urban Legend!"

Is the "Daddy Long-Legs" the most venomous spider? NO...Absolutely Not

Two groups of arachnids are commonly called "Daddy Long-legs" but neither are dangerous to people.

(6)(7)