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Daddy Long Legs
They're so common. So...unnoticed. They're everywhere. When I brush them off of a surface I need, they tumble silently, seemingly unhurt, to another locale, and go about their business...whatever that business is. In this case, it is scavenging for food over the dessicated remains of apricot seeds we saved for replanting. Daddy Long Legs spiders don't "prey" as their webs are not sticky, but sloppily made to simply entangle accidentally. Because their web-making skills are underdeveloped, they rely on all manner of decaying matter for their food---from vegetable to carrion. They aren't fussy. They have a varied diet, which seemingly depends more upon that fact that they found it, rather than any planned menu.
We've all heard that "urban legend" that says that Daddy Long Legs spiders are THE most poisonous spider on earth. Surprise, suprise! It's not true. And the name, "Daddy Long Legs" is widely distributed over several different species the world over. For a quick, but rather comprehensive, picture of the name and related species, go to: Daddy Long Legs Spiders
There are many varieties, many misnomers and many misconceptions. Hop over to the website and have an educated look at this ubiquitous arachnid which seems to find its way into almost everything this time of year out here JOTOLR.
Posts
ELORA -- I HAD NEVER HEARD THAT DADDY LONG LEGS WERE POISONOUS. GOOD THING AS I SHOO THEM AWAY WITH MY HAND IF THEY GET IN THE WAY OF WHAT I AM DOING. I READ THE SPIDER LINK YOU ENCLOSED IN YOUR POST -- VERY GOOD.--barbara
ReplyDeleteOur Daddy Long Legs is the crane fly. I don't like them because they get in the bathroom window attracted by the light and then they clatter about and I'm always sure they will fly in my face or hair. Yuk. Oh and we don't have any poisonous spiders thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid and lived on a farm I saw Daddy Long Legs all the time -- no one said they were poisonous and no one minded them. I haven't seen any for quite a long time, not a surprise when I lived in NYC but now I'm on Cape Cod and you make me wonder where they've got to.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, Ruta and June,
ReplyDeleteI'm not certain how I managed to (mis)-inform you all, making you think that Daddy Long Legs are poisonous. There are several types of spiders and other insects that are called "Daddy Long Legs" and some of these, as I understand, are poisonous.
But I had heard ever since I was a child that DDL were "the most poisonous spider in the world but since they didn't have fangs, they were unable to bite humans." Well, my intent was to tell you that that is a myth. It is NOT true that DDL (the old common ones we see everywhere)are poisonous, or that their venom has been tested for toxicity. One article I read, today, insisted that since they have no fangs with which to inflict venom, nobody knows what it's power is, since humans cannot be bitten by a DDL. And it's impossible to test the lethal qualities in humans because no one wants to volunteer to ...take the risk of expiring!
Basically, I was trying to convey that the DDL are harmless and you can continue to brush them away with an easy mind!
Forgive me for the confusion! I would not want to be the carrier of an ongoing, myth! So, the DDL spider is not a known threat to anyone!
Please accept my apologies!
Elora
We share our home with numerous Daddy Long Legs -- I scoop them up and take them outside when possible but there's always another somewhere/
ReplyDelete