Fall is the height of spider season and an early morning walk will find each tell-tale web, heavy with night's dew. Not all spiders make webs, a few are ground spiders, seeking their prey at ground level or climbing to hunt. One such spider intrigues me, the daddy-long-leg, which is very common and totally harmless. Technically not a spider (there are more than a couple of species of daddy-long-legs), most are commonly found within the order of opiliones. Distant cousins to spiders, more closely related to mites and ticks, instead of having segmented bodies, the body parts are fused leaving them with no apparent waist.

People are funny about daddy-long legs, often squeamish. As a child I was terrified of all spiders, this has changed (thankfully) and I respect them immensely as an adult. Another common name used for daddy-long-legs is harvest spider and harvestmen, derived from their appearance at harvest. Biologist refer to them as opiliones from the Latin word for Shepard and in Linnaeus time they were referred to as the Shepard spider. They eat a variety of foods, plant and animal, capable of chewing with forcep-like jaws. There are species that can bite as well as inflict painful pinches with their hind legs, but not in this part of the world.

Common foods include insects, ripe fruit and even bird droppings. Daddy-long-legs need a moist area to live, not only do they drink a lot but they spend much of their time preening. If you have spent any time watching them, you will see them lift a leg to the pedipalps (mouth parts) and slide them back and forth as they clean. It is believed that this helps prevent desiccation and keeps sensory receptors open. They are a marvel in design, well flexed muscular legs are able to nimbly walk through tall grass or over large obstacles. It is said that if we shared their proportions, our legs would be forty feet long.

Typical of most spiders, their eyesight is poor and they rely on their legs to feel and possibly smell their way around. The eyes rest on top of the round body, which will go through six molts or instars after hatching from the egg. Eggs hatch in late spring and most daddy-long-legs mature and die by fall. A few will winter over as they may not have been able to complete their last instar. These hopeful survivors will seek warm locations under fallen leaves or protective rocks.

Little is known scientifically about daddy-long-legs. Spiders and kin remain one of the largest, but least researched animals. Of particular interest is the usefulness of the fluid put out by their scent glands. Probably produced as a defense mechanism, certain birds and frogs have been observed spitting out daddy-long-legs and subsequently wiping beak or mouth. In one South American species, the fluid works as a fungicide, most likely developed to ward off fungal problems associated with their environment.

Occasionally you will notice small red dots that look like they're attached to their legs. These are trombiculid mites, relatives that also inhabit moist or damp places. The small mites are most likely hitching a ride, as there does not seem to be a symbiotic relationship between the two. There does seem to be some argument about the relationship though as I did read an article that suggested they are parasites of the spiders.

The most important legs of the eight are the second ones, used to reach and inquisitively feel their way around. You will notice that they seem longer but actually do most of the work as they move along, much like a walking stick for sight challenged individuals. I encourage you to reach out and let a daddy-long-leg sense you, their reaction is always the same, a very quick exit.