Daddy-long-leg?

Question

When someone says daddy-long-legs are they talking about the spiders or the flies?

What are the correct names for the daddy-long-leg flies?
What are the correct names for the daddy-long-leg spiders?

I'm petrified of the flies, really, but I have no real issues with the spiders (although they do remind me of the daddy-long-leg flies…as do giraffes), everyone seems to get the two confused, even when I specify I mean the flying evils – a lot of people think they are the same thing, only one flies and one does not.

To clarify;

Fly - http://www.fliegenshop.at/images/daddylonglegs.jpg
Spider - http://newton-i.usefilm.com/8/2/0/820/209941-small.jpg

Answer 1

Crane flies (Tipulidae) are a family of insects resembling giant mosquitoes. Like the mosquito, they are in the order Diptera (flies). They have numerous other common names, many of them more or less regional, including daddy longlegs, mosquito eaters, lollygaggers, gallinippers, gollywhoppers, doizabizzlers, chicken flies, mosquito hawks, leather jackets, Jimmy Spinners, skeeter eaters, flipadoodles and brizzlelegs. In the UK they are most commonly referred to as Daddy Long-Legs, while the creatures known in the US as Daddy Long-Legs are actually a species of arachnid known as Opiliones

Answer 2

There are three small creatures that have the name daddy longlegs. One is an insect, the other two are arachnids, which one is a spider and the other is not.

The first one the insect, is called the crane fly. It does resemble a large mosquito, but unlike the mosquito they don't bite humans. And they have no venom.

The second one is also called the harvestman. It looks like a spider with thin long legs. But it is not a true spider. But like the crane fly, the harvestman has no venom glands. Although some of the larger tropical species might break a human skin, there will be no effect, because they are not venomous at all. They are completely harmless.

The third one is actually a spider. Though it does have venom, the venom is too weak to have any serious effect on humans. Studies have shown that the venom even has a weak effect on insects.

Answer 3

Spider:
Pholcus phalangioides
The Daddy long-legs spider, also called the Daddy long-legger, Granddaddy long-legs spider, cellar spider, vibrating spider, or house spider.

Fly:
Crane flies (Tipulidae) are a family of insects resembling giant mosquitoes. Like the mosquito, they are in the order Diptera (flies). They have numerous other common names, many of them more or less regional, including daddy longlegs, mosquito eaters, lollygaggers, gallinippers, gollywhoppers, doizabizzlers, chicken flies, mosquito hawks, leather jackets, Jimmy Spinners, skeeter eaters, flipadoodles and brizzlelegs.

In the UK the flies are most commonly referred to as Daddy Long-Legs, while the creatures known in the US as Daddy Long-Legs are the spiders.

Answer 4

Daddy long legs the fly = Crane fly. Daddy long legs the spider-like (related to scorpions) insect = Harvestman. Local names can vary.

Answer 5

ooooo! hate these things! I think a daddylong legs is the crane fly and the spider with the spindly long legs is a house spider. Inspite of the wet weather in September I actually noticed less of these at the front of my house which is now block paved. I think the crane fly lay their eggs in grass (lawned areas).

Answer 6

The daddy long legs fly as you are efering to is a mosquito eater, it's harmless to humans. And the daddy long legs spider, is not a spider. They are not arachnids, but are cousins of arachnids. They are not spiders because they have only one body segment and spiders have two.

Answer 7

I was always taught that the daddy lon legs was a spider and the fly was a Jenny long legs

Answer 8

Hi Frosty, I'm not afraid of Mr. Daddy Long Legs..But Black Widow Spiders scare the crap out of me and the others Ugly nasty Spiders too. Your Friend, poppy1

Answer 9

Yes ,there you have it ,a crane fly also know to the normal public as daddy long legs or a ginny spinner ,depending on where you live .

Answer 10

daddy long legs fly = crane fly

daddy long legs spider = harvest spider