Harvestmen / Daddy Longlegs in Central Arkansas
Harvestmen, also known as daddy longlegs, are commonly mistaken for spiders, but they are not true spiders. They earn their name from their appearance during the late summer and fall harvest periods. Unlike true spiders, harvestmen cannot produce silk or spin webs due to the absence of silk glands. Their distinctive features include long, thin legs and compact oval bodies. While they may congregate around buildings, these creatures are harmless to humans, animals, buildings, and crops.
Harvestmen / Daddy Longlegs Habitat
Harvestmen thrive in humid habitats, predominantly inhabiting forests and caves where they scale rocks and vegetation. Throughout warm seasons, these creatures are abundant in shaded areas of buildings, beneath eaves, within crawl spaces, and on trees, spanning both rural and urban landscapes. As autumn approaches, harvestmen congregate in sizable clusters or swarms on building exteriors, moving collectively in undulating masses, a spectacle that may unsettle predators or homeowners.
Harvestmen Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers
Harvestmen contribute to garden ecosystems as beneficial predators, preying on aphids, spiders, and other pests. Unlike some creatures, harvestmen neither bite nor produce venom, making them harmless to humans. When disturbed, they release an odor that wards off potential predators. While seldom found indoors, their nocturnal habits render them challenging to spot, as they are most active during the night.
If you are dealing with excess daddy longlegs spiders on your property, contact your local spider exterminators for help.
