The term "daddy longlegs" refers to a number of different things. This one standing on a pink zinnia is the one I am most used to. There is also a crane fly/mosquito hawk, and one or two types of spiders that are called by the same name. This however, is not a spider. The class Arachnida has several subclasses and orders. Scorpions and ticks belong to the arachnid family, and so does this guy. Besides "daddy longlegs," it is also called a harvestman or more properly, an opillonid.
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As I said, it is not a spider. The opillonid has only one body section while Spiders have a separate cephilothorax and abdomen, but this character has only one. It has only two eyes, while spiders have eight. It does not produce silk or venom. That's right. The story that suggests these are the most venomous things on earth is a myth. That does not mean that they are not dangerous. If I throw one at my wife's face, it will almost certainly result in me getting a concussion. I'll just snap my picture and move along.
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8 comments:
Played with them all my life....never knew they weren't a spider. Thanks for the info.
...Laughed at the "dangerous if I throw one at my wife's face" portion of your blog. Love the fun in the post....and a great photo!!
very cool!
Mr Know-it-all strikes again!
If it has long legs, and it could possibly be a daddy, or even if it's a mummy, I just call it a daddy long legs regardless of the species or the latin name. But thanks for the info.
Wowo looks like you are getting used to your new camera ;-) Well done it's a beautiful capture!
Thank you, Jackie. Though I never really played with them, I like spiders and daddy longlegs. They quietly go about their own business and don't actively go after people. I laugh when someone shrieks because they see one, little spider in a room.
Thanks Mr. Dave. The original photo was going to be of one of the zinnias in my friend's yard. Then I saw the harvestman...
Mr. Know-it-all? Shammy, I have this cool, new tee shirt that says, "I'm right 97% of the time, and nobody cares about the other 4%.
Merci, Monseur Chris. I tried a new trick with this shot. My camera can place a live view on the back screen, and then I can magnify that view to see how sharp the focus is while leaving the actual photo the original size.
Well, I learned something NEW! So, a daddy longlegs is not a spider, eh?
That's the best teeshirt ever!
LOL @ the danger associated with throwing one at your wife! you are a wise man to avoid that scenario.
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