Daddy Long Legs

Daddy Long Legs or Harvestmen are arachnids, but not really spiders. The ones shown in this video are probably the typical large ones that most people in the eastern US encounter. They often just sit and mind their own business, but they can run real fast if bothered. They are harmless and "friendly" and I have found that they seem to cut down on the number of "bad spiders" around the house and deck - perhaps by feasting on spiderlings. Here I am checking underneath my rocker that is kept outside near the the woods and you see two Daddy Long Legs hanging out near the abandoned web and eggs sacs of a spider you don't want under your chair. This is why they are sometime misunderstood as spiders because they can be seen around other spiders abandoned nests. Black and Brown Widows are notorious for deciding to live in seldom used outdoor furniture so take a tip from BB and always check. And if you see a "Daddy Long Legs" let them live they are beneficial. They are also commonly found in the dense foliage of evergreen trees hunting for food as in the second half of the video. These are one of the favorite foods of birds such as the House Wren. If you watch this video of wrens feeding their young you will see they eat a lot of Daddy Long Legs - https://youtu.be/1aLyIbwKwOo



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