2006-09-17 08:51:41 · 11 answers · asked by lamara w 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Daddy longlegs, or harvestmen, are relatives of true spiders. Like spiders, they have eight legs. But, these dads can drop a leg or two to get away from an enemy. Some daddy longlegs spiders' are moms.
Daddy-long-legs spiders have venom glands and fangs but their tiny fangs are fused at the base and they cannot open their jaws wide enough to bite humans. As they cannot bite humans, their venom has not been studied in detail. As far as Dr Mike Gray (senior archeologist at the Australian Museum) knows, there is no evidence in the scientific literature to suggest that the venom of daddy-long-legs could harm humans.
However daddy-long-legs kill and eat other spiders, including Redback Spiders whose venom CAN be fatal to humans. Perhaps this is the origin of the rumor that daddy-long-legs are the most venomous spiders in the world. It might be argued that if they can kill a deadly spider, they must be even more deadly themselves, but daddy-long-legs only need to be quicker to bite, not more venomous.
2006-09-17 08:53:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Daddy Long Legs spiders or Daddy long legs referring to the crane fly? I believe daddy long legs as a name for the crane fly came from a nursery rhyme or traditional poem, though I cannot find any reference online, and it refers to the length of their legs, as suggested in the name.
2006-09-18 23:56:44 · answer #2 · answered by the_darksquall 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Contrary to popular belief daddy long legs are not spiders, they are the crane fly and have long legs to balance themselves in flight, also because they dance over water.
2006-09-17 08:56:07 · answer #3 · answered by tucksie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
children think it looks like daddys legs
2006-09-20 03:51:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
cos they have daddy long legs lol
2006-09-17 08:52:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
because they have long legs
2006-09-17 08:52:53 · answer #6 · answered by dream_seeker_11 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don`t know but when my wee girl was about 2 she used to call them baby dong legs, now my other wee girl calls them scary wary wonkheads!!!!!!!!!! xx
2006-09-17 09:08:37 · answer #7 · answered by nicola 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont know but we have a better name for them.... floppy doppys! makes people laugh too! try it and watch the results!! x
2006-09-19 06:14:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because their not called mummy
2006-09-20 09:27:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
zzzzzzzzzz jeeezzzz not ANOTHER one
2006-09-17 08:53:54 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋