Are Daddy Long Legs Poisonous?

These arachnids go by a few names. The most common would be daddy long legs, granddaddy long legs, harvestmen, or harvesters. They have a lifespan of about one year. They are brown, grey, or black in color with thin long legs and a small round or ovoid shaped body.

These spiders are active during all seasons, but tend to be most active in the fall months. They tend to come out most during the night. During daytime hours they will form groups while resting because they lack the silk-making ability required to make webs and they do not burrow.

We have all heard that daddy long legs are the most poisonous spiders, but their mouths are too small to bite. This in fact is a myth. They do not bite, nor do they release poison. They are essentially harmless to humans and animals. Though not poisonous, these spiders do have a few defense mechanisms they use to protect themselves.

Some of these mechanisms include releasing an awful-smelling scent as a repellant to predators. These scent glands are located near the front of the body. They also use a “bobbing” up and down motion to make their bodies harder for a predator to hold onto. They also will play dead, and form swarms with other daddy longlegs for protection.

What do Daddy Long Legs Eat?

A daddy long legs diet mostly consists of dead insects, rotting fruit, mushrooms, and animal droppings, and will occasionally eat other small insects. You can find these spiders often hangout around water sources. They tend to stay around dark damp places, which is why you will mostly find them in basements, garages, or crawl spaces. Outside of this, they are also attracted to light and warmth of a home, which is why you can sometimes find them out in the open in your house.

Are Daddy Long Legs Dangerous?

Though daddy long legs are harmless, nobody wants to share their home with spiders and other insects. Contact Prime Pest Solutions today to schedule your pest control appointment and let us protect your home for the summer!