Do Daddy-longlegs Bite?
The name daddy-longlegs is given to a type of harvestmen in the Opiliones order.
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The picture below shows a close up view of a harvestman, more commonly known as a daddy-longlegs.
You can easily identify it as a daddy-longlegs because of its two eyes. Spiders have either six or eight eyes, depending on the species.
The picture also shows the dark fang looking parts below the eyes. They are pedipalps. The chelicerae are the lighter colored mouthparts immediately below the darker pedipalps.
By just looking at the picture, it sure looks as if they can bite. It also seems reasonable to assume that since they are omnivorous, eating insects, plants and fruit, they would have to bite or chew the food to eat it.
Sometimes the words people choose to explain things are a bit confusing. Certainly daddy-longlegs eat. However, discussions about spider or daddy-longleg bites technically refers to their ability to use fangs to inject venom into prey to kill it.
Daddy-longlegs do not have fangs or venom for killing prey, and therefore there is no need for humans to be concerned about being bitten by them.
© 2007. Patricia A. Michaels