The belief that “daddy long legs” are among the most venomous creatures on Earth, yet harmless due to their inability to bite humans, is a widely circulated misconception. This urban legend creates unnecessary fear and misunderstanding. Scientific facts debunk the idea that these organisms pose a significant threat. This article will clarify the identity of “daddy long legs” and examine the true nature of their biological capabilities.
Who Are the “Daddy Long Legs”?
The common name “daddy long legs” is often used interchangeably for two distinct groups of arachnids: harvestmen and cellar spiders. While both share a similar appearance with long, slender legs, they belong to different biological orders within the class Arachnida.
Harvestmen, classified under the order Opiliones, are not true spiders. They possess a single, fused body segment, unlike spiders which have two distinct body parts. Most harvestmen have only two eyes, and they do not produce silk or venom. Instead of fangs, they have small, pincer-like mouthparts used for grasping and tearing their food, which often consists of decaying plant and animal matter or small insects.
In contrast, cellar spiders belong to the family Pholcidae and are true spiders. These arachnids feature two body segments and typically have eight eyes. Cellar spiders are known for constructing irregular, messy webs, often found in dark and damp household corners like basements or cellars.
Are Their Bites Dangerous?
For harvestmen, the answer is straightforward: they pose no threat to humans. Harvestmen lack venom glands and fangs, meaning they cannot inject venom into a bite.
Cellar spiders, as true spiders, do possess venom. However, their venom is considered very mild and has no significant effect on humans. Despite possessing fangs, these structures are generally too small and delicate to effectively penetrate human skin. There are no documented cases of medically serious reactions from a cellar spider bite. If a bite were to occur, perhaps on very thin skin, the reaction would likely be minor, comparable to a slight irritation or a mosquito bite.
Understanding the Persistent Myth
The widespread myth that “daddy long legs” possess the world’s most potent venom but cannot bite humans is scientifically unfounded.
One possible origin of the myth stems from observations of cellar spiders preying on more dangerous spiders, such as black widows or redback spiders. This led to the incorrect assumption that cellar spiders must possess an even more powerful venom to subdue such formidable prey. Another contributing factor may be the general human fear of spiders, known as arachnophobia, which can make people more susceptible to believing sensationalized claims.