Page 87 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
P. 87
vestman
(Opiliones)
Description
Harvestmen, commonly known as
daddy long legs, differ from spiders
because the cephalothorax and
abdomen are fused into one unit.
Their bodies are about 6 millimeters
long with eight very long thin
legs. Harvestmen do not have silk
glands or venomous fangs and are
completely harmless to humans. These animals have large glands
On either side of their mouth they that produce toxic chemicals to
have short appendages called keep predators away. They can shed
pedipalps that they use to hold food their legs when being pursued by a
while they chew it. predator and move fast even if they
lose a couple!
Female harvestmen can lay
hundreds of eggs in one summer in
several separate batches. Females
lay their eggs in protected hidden places. Sometimes they guard their eggs
and hatchlings and clean any disease-causing organisms off of the eggs. In
some species, the male will guard and clean the eggs.
Distribution and Habitat
Harvestmen need humid places to live. They are most often found in forests
and caves, climbing on rocks and vegetation. They are found in all five
physiographic provinces.
Role in Food Web
Harvestmen eat small invertebrates,
larger dead invertebrates and dead
plant material. Predators include
birds, toads, wasps, ants and
spiders.
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(Opiliones)
Description
Harvestmen, commonly known as
daddy long legs, differ from spiders
because the cephalothorax and
abdomen are fused into one unit.
Their bodies are about 6 millimeters
long with eight very long thin
legs. Harvestmen do not have silk
glands or venomous fangs and are
completely harmless to humans. These animals have large glands
On either side of their mouth they that produce toxic chemicals to
have short appendages called keep predators away. They can shed
pedipalps that they use to hold food their legs when being pursued by a
while they chew it. predator and move fast even if they
lose a couple!
Female harvestmen can lay
hundreds of eggs in one summer in
several separate batches. Females
lay their eggs in protected hidden places. Sometimes they guard their eggs
and hatchlings and clean any disease-causing organisms off of the eggs. In
some species, the male will guard and clean the eggs.
Distribution and Habitat
Harvestmen need humid places to live. They are most often found in forests
and caves, climbing on rocks and vegetation. They are found in all five
physiographic provinces.
Role in Food Web
Harvestmen eat small invertebrates,
larger dead invertebrates and dead
plant material. Predators include
birds, toads, wasps, ants and
spiders.
r 83 r
