The presence of long-legged, spindly creatures indoors often prompts a search for quick and effective removal methods. The primary challenge in controlling these houseguests lies in the confusing common name, “daddy long legs,” which is used for three entirely different types of arthropods. Identifying the specific creature is the first step toward successful removal. The best strategies focus on non-toxic, physical removal followed by exclusion and environmental control.
The Three Creatures Called Daddy Long Legs
The term “daddy long legs” can refer to a harvestman, a cellar spider, or a crane fly, each requiring a different approach to removal. The harvestman (order Opiliones) is an arachnid but not a true spider because its head and abdomen are fused into a single, oval body segment. Harvestmen do not spin silk and possess eight legs that are long relative to their body size.
The cellar spider (family Pholcidae) is a true spider most commonly found hanging upside down in irregular webs in damp basements and corners. This arachnid is distinguishable by its two distinct body segments and its ability to construct webs for catching prey. The third type is the crane fly (family Tipulidae), which is a large, slender-bodied insect. Crane flies have six legs and two wings, often resembling oversized mosquitoes, and are frequently drawn to light sources inside the home.
Immediate Removal Strategies
For cellar spiders and their webs, a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment is the most efficient method for immediate removal. Regular vacuuming of high corners and ceiling joints disrupts the spider’s habitat, forcing them to relocate or perish. When capturing spiders, dispose of the contents or seal a bagged canister immediately to prevent escape.
Crane flies, which are poor fliers and drawn to light, can be captured using yellow sticky traps placed near windows or entry points. Adult crane flies can also be dispatched using a fly swatter or by vacuuming them from walls and ceilings. Harvestmen are ground-dwellers and can be gently swept into a dustpan or captured with a glass and card for relocation outdoors. Physical removal is favored since these creatures rarely cause indoor damage and are beneficial outdoors.
Preventing Future Infestations
Long-term control relies on exclusion and managing the indoor environment, as all three creatures seek damp, dark, and sheltered conditions. Sealing entry points is a primary defense, including applying caulk to cracks in the foundation, around utility pipes, and along window and door frames. Installing or repairing tight-fitting window screens is important for crane flies, which fly in during warmer months.
Reducing interior moisture is an effective strategy, especially in basements and crawl spaces, which are favored by cellar spiders and harvestmen. Running a dehumidifier to keep indoor humidity below 50% makes the environment less hospitable for these arthropods. Exterior maintenance also helps, such as trimming back vegetation that touches the house and clearing leaf litter or debris where harvestmen hide and crane flies lay eggs.
Eliminating the food sources of the spiders and harvestmen will discourage their presence. Reducing other household insects, such as flies and gnats, limits prey for cellar spiders, encouraging them to seek sustenance elsewhere. For crane flies, reducing or redirecting outdoor lighting at night, perhaps by using yellow “bug lights,” will reduce their attraction to the house perimeter.
Are Daddy Long Legs Dangerous?
None of the three creatures commonly called “daddy long legs” pose a threat to human health. The harvestman is harmless because it possesses no venom and lacks the ability to bite a human. This debunks the urban legend that the arachnid is highly venomous but unable to penetrate human skin.
The cellar spider possesses venom, which it uses to subdue prey, but its short fangs and weak muscle structure make it incapable of delivering a medically significant bite. Crane flies, which are insects, are non-venomous and do not bite or sting in their adult stage. Their presence is purely a nuisance rather than a safety concern.