Harvestman (also known as Daddy Longlegs)
Scientific Name: Order Opiliones
Order & Family: Order Opiliones (Family varies, often Phalangiidae or Sclerosomatidae)
Size: Body is typically 1-22mm (less than 1 inch), with legs reaching up to 160mm in some species.
Natural Habitat
Varies widely across damp, shaded environments like forests, caves, and gardens; frequently found on walls or under eaves of human structures.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous and opportunistic scavengers; they eat small insects, spiders, fungi, decaying plant matter, and detritus.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal arachnids that do not produce silk or venom; they use their second pair of legs as sensory organs and may congregate in large groups for warmth or defense.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans as they lack venom glands and fangs. Beneficial to ecosystems as natural pest controllers and decomposers.
Identified on: 6/7/2026