Daddy Longlegs, also known as harvestmen, are arachnids that are found all over the world. They get their name from their long legs in proportion to their small bodies – a feature that helps them jump great distances. While they may look similar to spiders, daddy longlegs are not spiders and are actually more closely related to mites and ticks.
While most daddy longlegs are harmless to humans, there is one species – the cellar spider – that can bite if provoked. However, these bites are not considered dangerous or poisonous to humans.
Daddy longlegs generally live outdoors in areas of high moisture, such as gardens, forests, and near water sources. During the day, they can be found hiding under rocks or leaves. At night, they come out to hunt for food, which includes small insects and other invertebrates.
Since daddy longlegs don’t have webs like spiders do, they use their long legs to help them catch prey. They will also sometimes “play dead” when predators are nearby in order to avoid being eaten themselves!