As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, we welcome the beauty of autumn. However, with the arrival of fall, we also welcome a different kind of guest into our homes – spiders. While most spiders prefer to stay outdoors, some decide to seek shelter indoors during the cooler months. Two common culprits are daddy long legs and cellar spiders. In this post, we’ll help you identify and distinguish between these two fall pests, understand their habits, and offer tips on how to keep them at bay.
Spiders That Look Like Daddy Long Legs
Daddy long legs are not actually spiders but are creatures known as harvestmen. They have very long, spindly legs and small oval bodies. Many people confuse actual spiders with daddy long legs, thinking some spiders with long legs are daddy long legs. This article will go through 9 different spiders that are often mistaken for daddy long legs.
What Are Daddy Long Legs?
Daddy long legs also known as harvestmen are not spiders at all. They belong to the order Opiliones. There are around 6,500 species of harvestmen. Some key differences between harvestmen and spiders are
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Harvestmen only have one body segment, while spiders have two (cephalothorax and abdomen).
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Harvestmen have two eyes while spiders have six or eight.
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Harvestmen do not produce silk while spiders use silk for catching prey, safety lines, and egg sacs.
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The legs of harvestmen connect to their bodies directly, while spiders’ legs connect to the cephalothorax.
Harvestmen can grow up to 30 times the length of their bodies. Their legs help them feel vibrations of predators or prey through the ground. They are omnivores, eating small insects, fungi, carrion, and plants. You often find them under rocks, logs, and in caves.
9 Spiders Often Confused for Daddy Long Legs
There are many spiders with long, spindly legs that get mistaken for daddy long legs. Here are 9 of the most common:
- Cellar Spiders
There are several species of cellar spiders that resemble daddy long legs. They are also called daddy longlegs spiders. Some examples are the marbled cellar spider, tailed cellar spider, and short-bodied cellar spider. They have fragile, spindly legs about 6 times longer than their bodies. They build messy webs and like to live in dark, secluded places like basements and caves.
- Long-bodied Cellar Spider
The long-bodied cellar spider goes by daddy long legs spider. Females can reach 50mm leg spans. Their brownish-gray bodies are peanut shaped. They are found in crevices, caves, and quiet indoor spots.
- Pale Daddy Longlegs Spider
True to its name, the pale daddy longlegs spider has a pale brown, nearly transparent body. They have an elongated abdomen covered in purple spots. They build irregular webs in dark corners and gardens.
- Harvestman Cellar Spider
This European and Middle Eastern spider has a golden brown body around 10mm long. Its legs are over 6 times its body length. It sticks to man-made structures to find insect and spider prey.
- Giant Daddy-long-legs Spider
This spider has a pea-sized abdomen but leg spans larger than a hand. It lives in tropical places like mines and caves. It can bite but isn’t dangerous to humans. It bounces in its web to confuse predators.
- Shortbodied Cellar Spider
Intentionally introduced around the world, these cellar spiders have bulbous abdomens and lengthy legs. They are very pale brown, almost transparent. They hide in dark corners to catch insects and spiders.
- Long-bodied Cellar Spider
Nicknamed the skull spider, this spider has a peanut-shaped head. It constructs webs in quiet, dim indoor spots. Outdoors, it sticks to crevices and caves.
- Tailed Cellar Spider
The tailed daddy long legs has fragile, 6cm-long legs and a squared abdomen. It is harmless to humans but great at catching mosquitoes. Females reach 7mm long while males are 6mm. It has gray legs dotted with brown.
- Marbled Cellar Spider
Living throughout the Northern hemisphere, marbled cellar spiders invade homes. They have black and white leg joints. Males and females are similar sizes, with leg spans around 50mm. They prefer warm, secluded areas.
Bugs Mistaken for Daddy Long Legs
Sometimes even bugs get confused with daddy long legs. The crane fly is a major culprit. Also called mosquito hawks, they resemble large mosquitos. They are gangly, harmless insects drawn to gardens and homes. Their larvae can damage crops as agricultural pests.
Key Takeaways
While daddy long legs have an intimidating name, they are not actually spiders. Many cellar spiders, harvestmen, and other arachnids are inaccurately called daddy long legs thanks to their spindly legs. But these creatures are harmless to humans, focusing on catching insect prey. They like to stick to dark, enclosed spaces. The next time you see a daddy long legs, take a closer look to identify if it is a true harvestman daddy long legs or an imposter spider.
Identifying Daddy Long Legs and Cellar Spiders
- Daddy long legs, also known as harvestmen, are easily recognizable due to their long, thin legs. They have a small, round body and often appear pale brown or gray in color.
- They are known for their distinctive appearance: an elongated body and exceptionally long legs, which can span up to 2 inches.
- Daddy long legs are commonly found hanging from their webs in corners or hiding in dark, damp areas of your home.
- Cellar spiders are quite similar in appearance to daddy long legs, with long, spindly legs and a small body. They typically range from pale yellow to light brown.
- While they share a resemblance with daddy long legs, cellar spiders have a habit of creating disorganized, tangled webs in dark, moist locations.
Daddy long legs and cellar spiders have their similarities but are not the same species. Here are some key differences and similarities between the two:
- Leg Length: Both species have long, delicate legs.
- Preferred Environments: They tend to seek refuge in dark, undisturbed areas of your home.
- Beneficial Predators: Both spiders are harmless to humans and can be beneficial as they prey on other household pests.
- Web Structure: Daddy long legs have irregular, cobweb-like webs, while cellar spiders build messy, tangle-like webs.
- Body Shape: Daddy long legs have a round body, while cellar spiders are elongated and more cylindrical in shape.
Both daddy long legs and cellar spiders are frequently found in similar environments, including:
- Basements: These areas tend to be cool, dark, and humid, which attract both species.
- Garages: Cluttered and dimly lit garages are another favorite hiding spot.
- Crawl Spaces: If your home has crawl spaces, you might discover these spiders hanging out there.
- Sheds and Outdoor Structures: They may also appear in garden sheds and similar outdoor structures.
Are They Harmful to Humans?
The good news is that both daddy long legs and cellar spiders are harmless to humans. They don’t pose any significant health risks or property damage. In fact, they can be seen as allies in your pest control efforts as they help control populations of other insects in your home.
TYPES OF SPIDERS|DADDY LONG LEGS |PART-10|#creature #spider @LIKEMYTH@MrBeast@tseries
FAQ
Are there any spiders that look like daddy long legs?
The most common Phlocidae in the United States is the long-bodied cellar spider. Because of their long legs, cellar spiders are often mistaken for daddy longlegs.
Are cellar spiders harmful?
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Not Venomous:Cellar spiders are not venomous, and there’s no evidence to suggest their venom is dangerous to humans.
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Rarely Bite:They are not known to bite people, and even if they did, their fangs are too small to pierce human skin.
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Pest Control:Cellar spiders actually play a role in pest control by preying on other insects and spiders.
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Nuisance:The primary issue with cellar spiders is their messy webs, which can accumulate in corners and other areas.
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Confused with other spiders:They are sometimes confused with brown recluse spiders due to their appearance.
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Identification:Cellar spiders have long, thin legs and a small body, and they are typically gray, tan, or yellow.
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Habitat:Cellar spiders prefer dark, damp places, such as basements, attics, and crawl spaces.
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Control:If you have a problem with cellar spiders, you can try removing their webs, sealing cracks in your home, and reducing insect populations.
What looks like a daddy long legs but isn’t?
Are cellar spiders dangerous? Cellars are harmless spiders that appear on every continent except for Antarctica and are commonly mistaken for daddy longlegs because of their leg length. While not dangerous, cellar spider’s large webs can be difficult to remove, making them a nuisance.
What spiders look like Daddy Long Legs?
Spiders that look like daddy long legs include harvestmen, common house spiders, yellow sac spiders, running crab spiders, and false black widow spiders. Daddy long legs or Pholcidae, are also known as cellar spiders. They are very common and do not have venom.
What does a spider bite look like?
As the spider’s venom penetrates your skin and tissues, it causes injury and death (necrosis) to your surrounding tissues. When you are first bitten, the location of the bite may appear look like any other insect bite, appearing red and inflamed. It also can be a little itchy.
How long does a daddy long legs spider live?
A Daddy-long-legs spider can live to almost 3 years of age. In that time a female can have up to 8 clutches of 50 or more eggs. The Daddy-long-legs Spider is on of the most easily recognisable spiders as they have extremely long, skinny legs. It’s body can be up to 1cm long but legs can be much longer, depending on the species.