Opiliones

Daddy long-legs, Harvestmen

Rachelle Wallace
University of Georgia, Athens

Phalangium opilio
© GNU Free Documentation License

Phalangium opilio
Harvestman

Last updated: 12 May, 2006

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Overview

Harvestmen, also known as daddy long-legs, differ from true spiders in that they have a globular body with no real "waist," a clearly segmented abdomen, and they lack spinnerets to make silk. Harvestmen do, however, possess jaws, pedipalps and four pairs of walking legs like the true spiders. They are mostly nocturnal, but can be found during the day resting on fences and walls. Harvestmen produce no venom and pose no threat to humans. They rely on speed and camouflage as defense against predators. Harvestmen are omnivorous, and they often obtain water from dewdrops on plants.

Index

Phylogeny

Scientific Name -- Common Name
Arthropoda -- Arthropods

Index

Groups

Index

Links to other sites

  • International Society for Arachnology -- Information on Arachnida.
  • Texas A&M Entomology Department -- A catalog of arachnids.
  • University of Kentucky Entomology Department -- Harvestmen information.
  • Index

    References

    Discover Life | All Living Things | Identification Guides | Arachnida