Harvestman or Daddy Longlegs

Natural Habitat

Found in a wide range of habitats globally, including forests, grasslands, caves, gardens, and human dwellings. They prefer damp, dark places like under rocks, logs, or in leaf litter.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous scavengers and predators. They feed on small insects, mites, aphids, decaying plant and animal matter, fungi, and sometimes even bird droppings. They do not spin webs to catch prey.

Behavior Patterns

Mostly nocturnal. They often gather in large groups, sometimes forming 'balls' of many individuals, particularly when resting or during molting. They can detach their legs (autotomy) to escape predators; the leg may continue to twitch, distracting the threat. They are not spiders, lacking silk glands and venom.

Risks & Benefits

No known risks to humans; they are harmless, non-venomous, and do not bite. They are beneficial to ecosystems as detritivores, helping to break down decaying matter, and as predators of small pests.

Identified on: 9/19/2025