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Daddy longlegs

In Britain the crane fly (family Tipulidae, usually Tipula oleracea) is known to children as the Daddy longlegs.


Daddy longlegs (Harvestmen or Harvest Spiders) are long-legged arachnids which include the family Phalangiidae[?] (members of the opilionids[?] or "harvestmen[?]"), and Pholcidae[?] spiders.

Though these arachnids come from different orders (the opilionids[?] are not spiders), the various organisms share the name "Daddy longlegs" due to their close resemblance. Each has notably long legs, connected to a relatively small torso[?]. In the opilionids, the cephalothorax[?] and the abdomen are fused almost into a single structure, while in the Pholcidae, a distinct separation is visible.

Unlike the opilionids, which are common to North America, the Pholcidae are web[?]-spinners. Because they often choose to build their webs in cellars[?], they are sometimes known as Cellar spiders[?]. When threatened, they will vibrate rapidly in their web to scare off attackers, and thus are sometimes called Vibrating spiders[?]. The most common Pholcidae in Europe is Pholcus phalangioides[?]. This spider produces one of the most deadly venoms in the arachnid world; however, due to the small size of the spider's mouth, it is not considered dangerous to humans.

wikipedia.org dumped 2003-03-17 with terodump