However, Harvestmen, as well as spiders, actually have two main body segments, the cephalothorax (head end) and the abdomen (tail end). One obvious difference between Harvestmen and spiders is that the body shape of Harvestmen appears to be only one segment. As mentioned above Harvestmen are in the Order Opiliones while spiders are in the Order Araneae. Harvestmen are arachnids but they are not spiders. Other common names are Daddy-long-legs, Granddaddy-long-legs, Opilionids, and Shepherd Spiders, among a few others. Opiliones in the scientific community are known as Harvestmen. The two are the Order Opiliones and the Family Pholcidae in the Order Araneae.įirst are the Order Opiliones because they are probably seen more often than Pholcidae. One is a true spider while the other is not. The first issue that needs to be cleared up is that there are two totally different critters that people refer to as "daddy-longlegs". So, that means that a good portion of the information that exists in society is false and a lot of it is just plain ridiculous.įirst, let's start with the most commonly seen, daddy-longlegs. There seems to be a sort of public hysteria regarding them but there isn't any type of scientific data to back most of it up. Hopefully this will help get rid of any myths, wives tales, or rumors regarding spiders. It is true, however, that some spiders deserve more respect than others but all would prefer to be left alone by humans and none are out to get humans. But honestly, spiders want nothing to do with humans, but fear and panic continues to thrive due to false information, over-exaggeration of facts, myths, and the media. People fear them for various reasons but I suppose mainly because they have eight legs, some are hairy, and they all have fangs to bite with. Spiders are some of the most misunderstood critters we have in the U.S. Hopefully, maybe, this can shed some light on critters that receive an undeserved reputation and help in public awareness. This is an article about spiders that are continually blamed for bites, are the subject of myths, and the subject of fear.
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