Truth or Myth
Posted by Pam Varga on December 13, 2005
Q: Here's a question that has come up frequently whenever we discuss insects, spiders, and their relatives. Are Daddy Long Legs really poisonous? Some of my students claim that they have read or heard "somewhere" that Daddy Long Legs are really very poisonous, but their fangs aren't strong enough to hurt you. Other students claim that Daddy Long Legs are harmless. Can you tell us which is treu?
Thanks,
Pam Varga's Fifth Grade Science Class
A: Daddy Longlegs do not have venom. For some reason, it is widely believed (urban legend) that they do have a very poisonous bite but can't break a human's skin so are not harmful to people. This is one of those myths that get shared more quickly and easily than "the real story"!
There are about 200 different species of Daddy Longlegs or Harvestmen in North America. Some species feed on plant juices, some on dead insects and some do actually kill and feed on living insects but do not have venom. Hope this clears up this misconception. Thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( December 14, 2005)