Its close relatives may be mites and not spiders, hence the European Harvestman (Opiliones) is no true spider. It falls under the class Arachnida and is separated from other long-legged spiders by a single pair of eyes in the cephalothorax middle and fused body regions. This cosmopolitan creature is also called Daddy longlegs, Harvester, or Harvestmen. Since they are not true spiders, they lack silk glands hence can’t build a web or produce venom. Therefore, their defense mechanisms include a suit of armor that may counter chemical secretions from a predator, freezing, fleeing, and bobbing. The European Harvestmen swallow both solid and liquid foods.
The European Harvestman has an overall legspan length between 2.64”-6.18” (6.7-15.7 cm). European Harvestmen have a typical body length of .16”-.35” (4-9 mm), body width of .08”-.18” (2-4.5 mm), and body height of .07”-.17” (1.8-4.3 mm). The common lifespan of the European Harvestman is between 1 year.
Its close relatives may be mites and not spiders, hence the European Harvestman (Opiliones) is no true spider. It falls under the class Arachnida and is separated from other long-legged spiders by a single pair of eyes in the cephalothorax middle and fused body regions. This cosmopolitan creature is also called Daddy longlegs, Harvester, or Harvestmen. Since they are not true spiders, they lack silk glands hence can’t build a web or produce venom. Therefore, their defense mechanisms include a suit of armor that may counter chemical secretions from a predator, freezing, fleeing, and bobbing. The European Harvestmen swallow both solid and liquid foods.
The European Harvestman has an overall legspan length between 2.64”-6.18” (6.7-15.7 cm). European Harvestmen have a typical body length of .16”-.35” (4-9 mm), body width of .08”-.18” (2-4.5 mm), and body height of .07”-.17” (1.8-4.3 mm). The common lifespan of the European Harvestman is between 1 year.
