Daddy Long Legs

[Prester John]

Hey can anyone confirm or refute this:

Daddy Long Legs have an extremely toxic bite, but they can't open their mouthpieces wide enough to bite Homo Sapiens.

Is this just an wrongly recalled memory or is it true?

PJ!

[wittgenst3in]

http://spiders.ucr.edu/daddylonglegs.html

[Prester John]

Not quite what i call a daddy long legs - a Cranefly

[Rolfe]

Thank's PJ, I was trying to get the name. Neither of those things would be called a Daddy Longlegs around here. Cranefly, that's it. (Actually, we called them Jenny Longlegs, but I suppose that's irrelevant.)

Anyway, I don't imagine for a second that the Cranefly has a potentially poisonous bite. The poor things can't even keep their legs on in a moderate breeze!

I think the legend must really relate to the things in these pictures.

Rolfe.

[Rob Lister]

I just saw a Myth Busters show on this very topic.

DEBUNKED!

They can bite [humans], it is toxic, but you are not likely to notice it more than you would a flea.

[Rolfe]

Rob, define "they". Since there seem to be at least three completely different species called "Daddy Longlegs" by someone.

Rolfe.

[Rob Lister]

Originally posted by Rolfe
Rob, define "they". Since there seem to be at least three completely different species called "Daddy Longlegs" by someone.

Rolfe.

Sorry, no can do. It's TV for Ed's sake. They looked like the daddy-long-legs I'm familiar with though. Little tear-shaped body suspended by thread-like legs 10X the body size.

Edit: Yes, can do. I think the spiders they used, and the ones I'm used to as well, are actually harvestmen spiders...which are not classically spiders at all.

Edit^2: No, I think I'm wrong. The one in the show was a real 'daddy long leg' (Pholcus phalangioides) and the ones I grew up with (they didn't raise me or anything but they were always around helping me with my homework) are harvestmen.

[Rolfe]

PJ was asking about the crane fly (http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th6g.htm) (Tipulidae oleracea), because that's what's known as a Daddy Longlegs around here.

I've never heard the story at all, and I think it must be something told about one of the American species which are also known as Daddy Longlegs. What you said.

Rolfe.

[RSLancastr]

Around here (Los Angeles), there are two different things which are commonly referred to as "Daddy Long Legs" (three actually, if you count Fred Astaire).

One is a spider, commonly found (by me) in the corners above my shower. Tiny body, long, thread-thin legs.

The other looks much like that spider, but has wings, and is sort of reddish in color. Perhaps it is the cranefly mentioned above.

[bug_girl]

Three things are commonly called daddy long legs. only one of them is a spider. None of them is dangerous to humans.

A crane fly is just what it sounds like--a fly with very long legs.

There is something called a Daddy long legs spider (Pholcidae) which is a proper spider, with very long legs. Like all spiders, it has venom, but it is no more toxic than the average spider. They commonly like to live in basements and attics. photo (http://www.museums.org.za/bio/spiderweb/pholicid.htm)

Then there is the Opiliones Daddy Long Legs, which is a spider relative, but *not* a true spider. There is a very nice page of FAQ's (http://www.arachnology.org/Arachnology/Pages/Opilio_QandA.html) about opiliones.

I hear this myth all the time, and it just makes me nuts. For some reason. people seem to want to believe some of the most innocuous animals are dangerous.....but don't fear things that are truely dangerous, like smoking or cars.

[Rat]

I hear this myth all the time, and it just makes me nuts. For some reason. people seem to want to believe some of the most innocuous animals are dangerous.....but don't fear things that are truely dangerous, like smoking or cars. [/B]
I've gotta say, I've never called any creature a daddy-longlegs, as even when I was a five-year-old, it seemed a daft name. Craneflies is craneflies (the wok of Santa) and harvestmen (harvestmans?) are what they are.

The only reason I'm scared of craneflies (and moths) is because they surely exist only to bump against me, get in my face, and generally be all insecty and disgusting. I really couldn't give a toss whether they're poisonous. Adders are, and I'm no more scared of them than necessity requires. My arachnophobia extends only to those (large) spiders that venture into my living space.

Since I'm scared of craneflies and moths, we (my better half and I) came to an agreement, when we first moved in together, that I'd deal with spiders (despite being terrified of them) as long as she dealt with the moths and craneflies. In fact, I deal with the spiders (yes, alive if I have a choice), while the moths and craneflies roam free unless they're dead, in which case they're my job.

Cheers,
Rat.

[LostAngeles]

Originally posted by ratcomp1974
I've gotta say, I've never called any creature a daddy-longlegs, as even when I was a five-year-old, it seemed a daft name. Craneflies is craneflies (the wok of Santa) and harvestmen (harvestmans?) are what they are.

The only reason I'm scared of craneflies (and moths) is because they surely exist only to bump against me, get in my face, and generally be all insecty and disgusting. I really couldn't give a toss whether they're poisonous. Adders are, and I'm no more scared of them than necessity requires. My arachnophobia extends only to those (large) spiders that venture into my living space.

Since I'm scared of craneflies and moths, we (my better half and I) came to an agreement, when we first moved in together, that I'd deal with spiders (despite being terrified of them) as long as she dealt with the moths and craneflies. In fact, I deal with the spiders (yes, alive if I have a choice), while the moths and craneflies roam free unless they're dead, in which case they're my job.

Cheers,
Rat.

Actually, there's a bit of an easier solution.

Allow the spiders to live for a bit and get a kitty. Preferably two kitties. For uh, more effectiveness.

The cat(s) and spiders will hunt your annoying bugs. The cat(s) can also control the spider population. If you notice the spiders getting a bit to numerous, start doing the cup and paper method and show them the door.

So there's a nice enviro-friendly bit of pest control and you have something warm and fuzzy to love and take all of your time and money.

:c1:

On topic:

I hearby swear that on the East Coast at this time of year, Daddy-long legs (the little red dot guys with the big ol' legs) are the most abused creatures at the hands of children or at the lighters of children.

[Prester John]

I think i have it cleared up, a mixed suburban myth ! I've got a feeling the original thought may have been from a Discovery channel type programme (ie American) so the American Suburban myth about daddy long legs got transposed in the memory to the UK daddy long legs (cranefly), with the sensible bits forgotten.

Don't like Craneflies, they just seem to flounder about and try to bump into my face. ug!

Thankyou

PJ!

[Rolfe]

S'true. Caramel's really quite efficient at debugging the bedroom. It's the bit where he chews ostentatiously and then licks his chops that grosses me out.... :c1:

Rolfe.

[Benguin]

Did anyone post the snopes (http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/longlegs.htm) page on this yet?

[c0rbin]

The easiest way to visually discern the three "bugs" that Bug Girl described above is:

Crane Fly is an insect so it has six legs, 3 body segments, and wings.

The spider (Pholcidae), being a true spider has, like every other true spider on the planet 2 body segments with 8 legs sprouting from the front segment.

The third, a "false" or pseudo spider is an arachnid, but differs in that it has only 1body segment--like ticks and mites--with the standard 8 legs.

[espritch]

Years ago when I was in collage, I was sitting in a break room when a girl in the room suddenly jumps up on a couch and yells "Spider!". It was just a harvestman (the only critter I've ever heard referred to as a daddy long legs) so I let it crawl up on my hand just to hand just to show her it was harmless. I offered to let her have a closer look but she assured me in no uncertain terms that she had absolutely no interest in getting any closer to it than she already was, dangerous or not, so I took it outside and let it be about it's business (whatever that was).

That girl was obviously no relation to our bug_girl.

[welshdean]

I can vouch for their harmlessness. While at a party a few years ago, I was dared to eat a live daddy longlegs (crane-fly), which I declined. When the 'ante' was upped - to a fiver, I picked the bugger up and popped it into my mouth. To prove it was still alive I had to open my mouth a little so the now large crowd could see it's legs moving and thus prove it was still alive. They taste a little 'earthy' not unlike rainbow trout. I survived (it didn't), so I think I was more 'toxic' than he!
Incidentally, the girl I had made some (well received) moves on seemed to go a little cold toward me afterwards. I never found out why!!

[espritch]

Hey, welshdean, could there have been more involved in this than just a fiver; alcoholic beverage for instance? :D

[Suezoled]

Daddy longlegs are good guys. They just mind their own business, and help keep things cleaned up.

I remember once I had a daddy longless that had lost some legs, and I had picked it up (by a leg of course) to move it. The leg came off. There were 2 or 3 legs left. So, I put a stone on top of it to "mercy kill it." I came back a few hours later, and was horrified to find two legs twitching out from under a rock. the things was not only nearly helpless to move, but I hadn't killed it after all! So, I put a larger rock on it, and it squished to death. Later on, some ants were seen carrying the poor thing away.

[Hydrogen Cyanide]

Originally posted by welshdean
... While at a party a few years ago, I was dared to eat a live daddy longlegs (crane-fly), ...

Next time you are dared to eat a "daddy longleg"... make sure to specify this type: http://www.welovefish.com/kingcrab.htm ... a much meatier form of anthropod.

Around here tourists will often think that a crane fly is a super mosquito (due to our reputation for rain). But it is just an annoying fly which have larvae that live in lawns.

[MRC_Hans]

Interesting thread :). The true spider type has become very prominent in the later years here. They have become almost the dominant type of spider in my house, and their large, nearly invisible webs turn up everywhere. Despite their fragile appearance, they are actually quite robust. No match for my new 1800W vacuum-cleaner, tho' :D.

My late cat, Tarzan, was a keen spider hunter, but he rarely ate them, just chewed them up a bit, leaving horrifyingly maimed, but still live remains crabbing around on the floor :eek:.

Hans

[bug_girl]

Originally posted by Hydrogen Cyanide

Around here tourists will often think that a crane fly is a super mosquito (due to our reputation for rain).

If you look very closely in the first Jurassic Park movie, you will see that the "mosquito" that they extract dino blood from in amber is actually a crane fly, not a mosquito.

My group of entomologists watching the movie was loudly shushed during that part of the film. :D

[Benguin]

Originally posted by welshdean
I can vouch for their harmlessness. While at a party a few years ago, I was dared to eat a live daddy longlegs (crane-fly),

I had a friend used to do that a lot ... he'd got to the point of asking people to dare him to eat insects that were unfortunate enough to be wandering through our student kitchen when the kebabs and cheap beer had been finished.

I never saw him suffer any ill-effects .. and he did used to boast he'd eaten a gerbil after one session, I don't know where he got it from.

[CurtC]

I saw that Mythbusters episode last week, and my thought was that whatever kind of spiders these guys caught, they weren't Daddy Longlegs. I've only known the Opiliones kind by that name, but I was aware that people from the UK referred to Crane Flies by it.

The spiders the Mythbusters guys caught looked completely unlike the DLs I've known - theirs looked more like small, regular-shaped spiders with long legs. Thanks to all for educating me that some refer to yet a different animal (Pholcidae) by that name.

[Frostbite]

As a kid I'd rip out all their legs and watch them crawl around using their mantibles.

Fun!

[BPSCG]

Originally posted by espritch
Years ago when I was in collage, I was sitting in a break room when a girl in the room suddenly jumps up on a couch and yells "Spider!".

(...snip...)

she assured me in no uncertain terms that she had absolutely no interest in getting any closer to it than she already was, dangerous or not, so I took it outside and let it be about it's business (whatever that was).

That girl was obviously no relation to our bug_girl. The surveyors brought back more tarantulas with them, and so we had quite a menagerie arranged along the shelves of the room. Some of these spiders could straddle over a common saucer with their hairy, muscular legs, and when their feelings were hurt, or their dignity offended, they were the wickedest-looking desperadoes the animal world can furnish. If their glass prison-houses were touched ever so lightly they were up and spoiling for a fight in a minute. Starchy?--proud? Indeed, they would take up a straw and pick their teeth like a member of Congress.

There was as usual a furious "zephyr" blowing the first night of the brigade's return, and about midnight the roof of an adjoining stable blew off, and a corner of it came crashing through the side of our ranch. There was a simultaneous awakening, and a tumultuous muster of the brigade in the dark, and a general tumbling and sprawling over each other in the narrow aisle between the bedrows. In the midst of the turmoil, Bob H---- sprung up out of a sound sleep, and knocked down a shelf with his head. Instantly he shouted:

"Turn out, boys--the tarantulas is loose!"

No warning ever sounded so dreadful. Nobody tried, any longer, to leave the room, lest he might step on a tarantula. Every man groped for a trunk or a bed, and jumped on it. Then followed the strangest silence--a silence of grisly suspense it was, too--waiting, expectancy, fear. It was as dark as pitch, and one had to imagine the spectacle of those fourteen scant-clad men roosting gingerly on trunks and beds, for not a thing could be seen. Then came occasional little interruptions of the silence, and one could recognize a man and tell his locality by his voice, or locate any other sound a sufferer made by his gropings or changes of position. The occasional voices were not given to much speaking--you simply heard a gentle ejaculation of "Ow!" followed by a solid thump, and you knew the gentleman had felt a hairy blanket or something touch his bare skin and had skipped from a bed to the floor.

Another silence. Presently you would hear a gasping voice say:

"Su--su--something's crawling up the back of my neck!"

Every now and then you could hear a little subdued scramble and a sorrowful "O Lord!" and then you knew that somebody was getting away from something he took for a tarantula, and not losing any time about it, either. Directly a voice in the corner rang out wild and clear:

"I've got him! I've got him!" [Pause, and probable change of circumstances.] "No, he's got me! Oh, ain't they never going to fetch a lantern!"

The lantern came at that moment, in the hands of Mrs. 'Flannigan, whose anxiety to know the amount of damage done by the assaulting roof had not prevented her waiting a judicious interval, after getting out of bed and lighting up, to see if the wind was done, now, up stairs, or had a larger contract.

The landscape presented when the lantern flashed into the room was picturesque, and might have been funny to some people, but was not to us. Although we were perched so strangely upon boxes, trunks and beds, and so strangely attired, too, we were too earnestly distressed and too genuinely miserable to see any fun about it, and there was not the semblance of a smile anywhere visible. I know I am not capable of suffering more than I did during those few minutes of suspense in the dark, surrounded by those creeping, bloody-minded tarantulas. I had skipped from bed to bed and from box to box in a cold agony, and every time I touched anything that was furzy I fancied I felt the fangs. I had rather go to war than live that episode over again. Nobody was hurt. The man who thought a tarantula had "got him" was mistaken--only a crack in a box had caught his finger.

Not one of those escaped tarantulas was ever seen again. There were ten or twelve of them. We took candles and hunted the place high and low for them, but with no success. Did we go
back to bed then? We did nothing of the kind. Money could not have persuaded us to do it. We sat up the rest of the night playing cribbage and keeping a sharp lookout for the enemy.

(From "Roughing It", by Mark Twain)