The common name “Daddy Long Legs” refers to multiple distinct arthropods, leading to confusion about their potential to bite or cause harm. This ambiguity has fueled a persistent, inaccurate myth that one of these creatures possesses the world’s most potent venom but cannot bite a human due to small fangs. Scientific classification clarifies that three entirely different organisms are grouped under this single, familiar name. Understanding which creature you are encountering is the first step in dismantling the belief that a bite from one of these animals is a danger to human health.
Identifying the Real “Daddy Long Legs”
The vernacular term “Daddy Long Legs” can refer to a harvestman, a cellar spider, or a crane fly, each belonging to a different biological order. The harvestman, a member of the Opiliones order, is an arachnid but is not a true spider. Unlike true spiders, the harvestman’s head and abdomen are fused into a single, oval body segment, and it possesses only two eyes.
The cellar spider, belonging to the family Pholcidae, is a true spider with two distinct body parts and typically eight eyes. These spiders are commonly found indoors, hanging upside down in their irregular webs, and are the species most often associated with the biting myth. The crane fly is an insect from the order Tipulidae and is a true fly, making it completely unrelated to the two arachnids. This insect resembles an oversized mosquito, distinguished by its single pair of wings and six legs.
The Truth About Biting Capability
The ability to bite a human varies dramatically across the three creatures known as “Daddy Long Legs,” with two of them being entirely incapable of the act. The crane fly, as an adult, is completely harmless, as many species lack functional mouthparts, while those that do only use them for sipping nectar or water. Harvestmen also cannot bite a person because they do not have fangs or venom glands. Their mouthparts are chelicerae, which are small, pincer-like structures used for chewing food, and they are not strong enough to puncture human skin.
The only one of the three organisms that possesses fangs and is technically capable of biting is the cellar spider. These true spiders have short, hook-shaped fangs that measure approximately 0.25 millimeters in length. While their fangs are small, they are structurally similar to those of other spiders known to bite humans. Under extreme provocation, such as being squeezed or crushed against the skin, they can occasionally achieve a puncture. However, a cellar spider is timid and non-aggressive, making a bite a highly unlikely defensive action.
If a Bite Occurs
If a bite from the cellar spider were to occur, the effects on a human would be negligible and medically insignificant. The persistent myth that the cellar spider has the deadliest venom but cannot deliver it is entirely false. Scientific analysis of the venom indicates it is relatively weak, even when tested against insect prey, and is far less potent than the venom of medically relevant spiders like the black widow.
A bite from a cellar spider is typically described as producing a mild, short-lived stinging or burning sensation. Any resulting symptoms are minor, generally limited to slight, temporary redness or a localized itch at the site of the puncture. Because the venom is not toxic to humans, no lasting health effects or systemic reactions are expected. Treatment involves only simple first aid: cleaning the affected area with soap and water to prevent secondary infection.