2007-01-01 04:04:03 · 20 answers · asked by hotchocolate 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
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; the same legend is also repeated of the harvestman and crane fly, also called "Daddy Longlegs" in some locales. Indeed, pholcid spiders do have a short fang structure (called uncate). However, brown recluse spiders also have uncate fang structure, but are able to deliver medically significant bites. Either pholcid venom is not toxic to humans or there is a musculature difference between the two arachnids, with recluses, being hunting spiders, possessing stronger muscles for fang penetration.
Pholcid venom has never been scientifically tested on mammals. This would normally require milking the spiders and injecting the venom into humans or mice. In any case, there are no known cases of a pholcid spider ever biting a human and causing any serious effects.
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.
2007-01-01 04:13:50 · answer #1 · answered by Decadent One 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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; the same legend is also repeated of the harvestman and crane fly, also called "Daddy Longlegs" in some locales. Indeed, pholcid spiders do have a short fang structure (called uncate). However, brown recluse spiders also have uncate fang structure, but are able to deliver medically significant bites. Either pholcid venom is not toxic to humans or there is a musculature difference between the two arachnids, with recluses, being hunting spiders, possessing stronger muscles for fang penetration.
Another misconception is that the Daddy long-legs spider is not a true spider. This misconception arises from the multiple uses of the name Daddy long-legs. It is the Harvestman (which is also called Daddy long-legs) which is an arachnid but not a true spider. The Daddy long-legs spider is a true spider.
2007-01-01 12:08:02 · answer #2 · answered by Beth 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The answer is no. Whoever keep saying that they are really need to do some more research.
The daddy longleg spider does have venom and it can penetrate human skin, but the venom is very weak and it is completely harmless to humans.
The daddy longleg that is also called the harvestman IS NOT a true spider, but it is an arachnid. They have absolutely no venom glands whatsoever. No venom glands means no venom. Although some of the larger tropic species,might penetrate human skin, there is no danger. They are completley harmless.
The daddy longlegs that is an insect is called a crane fly. They look like large mosquitos, but they also do not possess venom and do not bite humans. They are a food source for many birds as well as other insect eating animals.
2007-01-01 17:39:38 · answer #3 · answered by megatron 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, the daddylonglegs is not a spider. It's an
arachnid, but of a different Order from spiders.
Second, it is not venomous at all. It has bad-smelling secretions to repel potential predators,
and possibly if you ate several these might prove
poisonous, but no one is going to eat something
that smells that bad. Third, in response to the
people who said the fangs can't penetrate the
skin, they don't have fangs.The mouthparts are
like pincers, as in crab claws. In some kinds the
pincers are remarkably large and these might be
able to penetrate the skin.
I don't know when or where the myth that they
are poisonous got started. I did not hear it until
about twenty years ago at most. Since then, like
much misinformation on the internet, it seems to
keep popping up at intervals.
2007-01-02 10:58:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the daddy-long-legs has six legs so it is not an arachnid (spider/scorpian/etc), rather it is an insect.
It has a decently potent venom, but in all usual circumstances, it cannot inject this venom into humans.
Not toally sure about other smaller insects though.
2007-01-01 12:16:34 · answer #5 · answered by ImSpartacus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not even think the are poisonous and if they are it is very little. I got bit by one once and i did not need antibiotics or anything. I think the black widow is the most poisonous spider=)
2007-01-01 12:12:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, that would be the funnel web spider of australia
daddy long legs are not seriously poisonous to humans.
2007-01-01 12:37:05 · answer #7 · answered by comic book guy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but they can not bite a human for there mouth are too small to penetrate the skin.
2007-01-01 15:48:37 · answer #8 · answered by texasman_1971a 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. They are harmless.
And fun to watch walk along the top of your hand.
But don't harm them as they eat insects in your house that can harm you.
2007-01-01 12:07:34 · answer #9 · answered by Alan Turing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're not even poisonus! I was around tons of them in camp and if they bit us the couselors would say" THEY ARENT POISUNUS!" So that pretty much says they arent. Plus, theyre NATURE SPECIALISTS
2007-01-01 12:15:05 · answer #10 · answered by Yemi A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋