Daddy long legs has how many legs

Myth: A "daddy-longlegs" is a kind of spider. Illustration: Henry C. Breadcrumb Home. Will the real "daddy-longlegs" please stand up? Spider Myths "Everything that 'everybody knows' about spiders is wrong! Explore More Myths Previous Next.

Spider Myth Resources. Learn More. The daddy longlegs spider is the cellar spider. It is pale gray or tan and has banding or chevron markings.

Crane flies, which resemble large mosquitoes, are sometimes called daddy longlegs as well. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile.

Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Share Flipboard Email. If the Daddy-long-legs Spider is disturbed in the web it responds by setting up a a very fast, spinning motion, becoming a blur to anyone watching..

Get our monthly emails for amazing animals, research insights and museum events. The Daddy-long-legs Spider, Pholcus phalangioides, is found throughout Australia. It is a cosmopolitan species that originates from Europe and was introduced accidently into Australia. There is a persistent belief that the Daddy-long-legs Spider has the most toxic venom of all spiders.

However, there is no scientific evidence to back this up. The myth probably grew from observations that the Daddy-long-legs Spider will kill and eat a Redback Spider. In the fall, they can become a nuisance when they congregate in large clusters on trees and homes, usually around eves and windows. Additionally they can be found in damp crawl spaces, unfinished basements, and garages. Rarely are daddy-longlegs encountered inside finished, living spaces of homes. Since daddy-longlegs are beneficial predators and scavengers in nature, control should only be performed when absolutely necessary.

The clustering behavior only occurs during the fall and for only a brief period of time. Daddy-longlegs do not damage structures when they cluster.

If control is necessary, due to a large number of daddy-longlegs that is considered unpleasant, insecticide sprays labeled for exterior use on spiders can also be applied directly to daddy-longlegs found outdoors. However, in nearly all situations, chemical control is not necessary. Most daddy-longlegs can be removed from structures with a vacuum or broom.

Donald A. This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement of brand names or registered trademarks by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied, nor is any discrimination intended by the exclusion of products or manufacturers not named.

All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label.