Harvestman (often called Daddy Longlegs)
Scientific Name: Order Opiliones (likely Family Phalangiidae)
Order & Family: Order: Opiliones; Family: Phalangiidae
Size: Body length typically 2-10 mm; leg span can reach up to 160 mm depending on the species.
Natural Habitat
Found worldwide in varied habitats including forests, caves, grasslands, and gardens; often found on tree trunks, under rocks, or in leaf litter.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous and opportunistic feeders; they eat small insects, spiders, aphids, decaying organic matter, fungi, and fruit juices.
Behavior Patterns
Unlike spiders, they have no venom or silk glands. They are primarily nocturnal, using their long second pair of legs as sensory organs to explore their environment. Some species congregate in large groups for protection and warmth.
Risks & Benefits
They are completely harmless to humans as they lack fangs and venom. They are beneficial to ecosystems and gardens because they act as scavengers and predators of garden pests like aphids and slugs.
Identified on: 6/8/2026