Harvestman or Daddy Longlegs (Opilion)
Scientific Name: Phalangium opilio (a common species, though many exist)
Order & Family: Order Opiliones, multiple families (e.g., Phalangiidae, Sclerosomatidae)
Size: Body length usually 3-7 mm, but legs can span up to 5-10 cm or more.
Natural Habitat
Typically found in damp, cool, and dark places such as under rocks, logs, leaf litter, in basements, caves, and gardens. They prefer areas with high humidity.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous scavengers; they feed on small insects, decaying plant and animal matter, fungi, and sometimes even small snails. They do not spin webs to catch prey.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal creatures, often seen in large aggregations, especially during mating season or when seeking shelter. They are known for their exceptional ability to detach legs (autotomy) to escape predators; detached legs can twitch for minutes. They also have scent glands that release a foul-smelling chemical as a defense mechanism.
Risks & Benefits
Harvestmen are harmless to humans; they are not venomous and do not bite. They are beneficial to the ecosystem as they help control populations of small insects (like aphids) and act as decomposers by cleaning up dead organic matter.
Identified on: 9/22/2025