my friend told me they are the most poisonous insects in the world but the reason they don't bite humans is that they have got really soft lips?? is that true?
2006-09-19 01:48:13 · 8 answers · asked by CazW 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
There is an urban legend stating that Daddy long-legs spiders have the most potent venom of any spider, but that their chelicera (fangs) are either too small or too weak to puncture human skin.
In 2004 the Discovery Channel show MythBusters set out to test the daddy long-legs myth (season 1, episode 13 "Buried in Concrete"). After measuring the spider's fangs at approximately 0.25 mm (average human skin thickness is about 0.10 mm) the show's host was apparently bitten, although the bite produced little more than a mild short-lived burning sensation.
This appears to confirm the suspicion that pholcids can penetrate human skin, but that their venom is practically harmless to humans. Additionally, recent research has shown that pholcid venom is actually relatively weak in its effects on insects as well.
Hope this helps.
2006-09-19 02:10:38 · answer #1 · answered by Jack 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All insects have their digestive glands in their mouths. They release acid like secretions into, or onto, the body of their victims to make them dissolve into an edible mash. If you have seen the movie The Fly, you will know what I mean.
Daddy long legs are ok too, even if they are poisonous! The point is that they don’t bite, and as long as they don’t, their poison is harm to anyone. So, it is perfectly all right to have good opinion about them. It is quite an experience, however, to see them flying, or at least trying to fly, with their long long legs dangling down.
Do you know that daddy long legs have soft hips too? The hips they try to keep off the ground at any cost, therefore the need for long legs? And if they have soft lips too than they will try to keep them away from anyone as well, therefore their perfect harmlessness. :)
And yes, there is intrigue - a secret. Daddy long legs would not harm anyone not because he don't want to. He just can't. He would if he could - if the lips were hard, and since they are not, he would not share them for a bite.
2006-09-19 02:09:50 · answer #2 · answered by Shahid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is more that they either have soft fangs or that they just dont have the ability to bite. I have also heard that they are the most poisonous but who knows if its true? Not me. They are the only spiders that pretty much dont bother me (unless they get too big).
2006-09-19 01:50:47 · answer #3 · answered by Amy >'.'< 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have lips to die for but beware, behind those gorgeous lips is a nasty little barb which injects a venom that turns it's victims insides into a mushy soup which it then drinks at it's leisure, be grateful humans are not part of it diet
2006-09-19 02:04:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think she/he is pulling your leg! They are harmless, in fact they keep other insects in check. Saying that I still hate them, they give me the creeps when they fly around and fly into you. There seem to be loads around this year - probably because of the hot long summer.
2006-09-19 03:01:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO this is not true
Yes they are the most poisinous spider, but they cant bite you because their mouths are too small, and cannot puncture human skin
so i suppose yes their mouths are 'too soft'
2006-09-19 01:56:44 · answer #6 · answered by LBB 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No that's not true, there mouth is to small to bite you.
2006-09-19 03:40:47 · answer #7 · answered by NeaNea 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DUH
2006-09-19 01:57:07 · answer #8 · answered by SEAN S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋