Daddy-Long-Legs spiders are a quiet bunch.
They are passive around humans and like to hide away in dark corners. Despite their relatively harmless appearance, Daddy-Long-Legs spiders are well known for attacking species of spiders that are dangerous to humans. As much, they are an excellent housemate – they leave us be while stopping other, more undesirable spiders from seeking shelter in our homes.
Today, we will be covering all things Daddy-Long-Legs, including what they are, where they are from, what they eat, and (most importantly) what to do if you are ever bitten by one. Let’s get into it!
Daddy-Long-Legs spidersbelong to the family of spiders calledPholcidae. This family of spiders consists of more than 1,800 species. As well as the Daddy-Long-Legs spider, other commonPholcidaespiders include the vibrating spider and the skull spider.
It takes a year for a young Daddy-Long-Legs spider to reach adulthood, and once they reach adulthood, they can live for another two years. Daddy-Long-Legs spiders love to dangle upside-down and wait for unwitting prey in their messy and irregular-shaped webs.
Although they have non-sticky webs and a relatively small body, Daddy-Long-Legs spiders are formidable predators and can kill their more more venomous counterparts.
Daddy-Long-Legs spiders got their name from their extremely long legs, which are five times longer than their bodies. In terms of size, the female’s body is generally 8mm in length, while the body of their male counterpart is a smaller 6mm.
They have two body parts, the cephalothorax and the abdomen. Daddy-Long-Legs spiders have eight legs that are attached to the cephalothorax. They also have eight eyes that are clumped together at the front of their bodies.
Most Daddy-Long-Legs spiders have cream to pale brown abdomens that are lightly patterned. In saying that, there are some species, such as the Marbled Cellar spider, that have a strikingly patterned abdomen with a dark strip on the underside.
Daddy-Long-Legs spiders primarily eat insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. They are renowned for killing and consuming other, more dangerous spiders like theRedback spiderand the Funnel-web spider.
But how do they do this?
Well, their long legs provide a key advantage. Daddy-Long-Legs spiders use their long legs to haul their more venomous, albeit short-legged counterparts into their web. They then use their long legs to wrap their prey up before the latter has a chance to attack. And once the prey is immobilised, it is bitten and killed.
Daddy-Long-Legs spiders are originally from Europe. However, alongside humans, they travelled the word far and wide and can now be found in every continent across the globe, except for Antarctica. They enjoy warm places and are the most common species of spider in Australia.
In the wilderness, Daddy-Long-Legs spiders like to build their homes in dark, damp areas – for instance, under rocks, in caves, and in abandoned burrows.
In urban areas, Daddy-Long-Legs spiders live alongside humans in quiet, undisturbed areas of the home – for instance, in corners, attics, and cellars. This is why Daddy-Long-Legs spiders are also called “Cellar spiders”.
It has long been believed that the Daddy-Long-Legs spider has the most poisonous spider venom known to man. However, there is no available evidence to substantiate this claim. This myth was simply born out of the observation that Daddy-Long-Legs spiders could trap, kill, and eat Redback spiders.
In reality, the venom of a Daddy-Long-Legs spider is not that potent, even for insects. Another myth surrounding the Daddy-Long-Legs spider is that their fangs are too small (0.25mm) to pierce human skin. However, this is also false.
Daddy-Long-Legs spiders are capable of piercing human skin, and the bite can induce a short-lived burning or stinging sensation. Many reputable sources state that the bite of a Daddy-Long-Legs spider is not harmful to humans.
If you are bitten by a Daddy-Long-Legs spider, consult the following steps:
Check out our Resource Library for information on how toidentify and treatbites from ten of Australia's most venomous spiders.
Some people can have a severe allergic reaction when bitten by a spider. This is calledanaphylaxis, a condition that can be fatal in as little as 15 minutes. Symptoms include:
If the casualty begins exhibiting any of the above symptoms, call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance, consult the Australian Resuscitation Council'sanaphylaxis treatment guideline, and followDRSABCDand prepare to perform CPR.
If you would like to learn more about providing first aid in the event of a bite or sting, book aFirst Aidcourse with us today.
We also have articles on what to do if you get stung or bitten bysnakes,fire ants, andmarine life.
And for more details on how toidentify and treatbites from some of Australia's deadliest spiders, includingWhite tail spiders,Wolf spiders,Huntsman spiders, andRedback spiders, head to our Resource Library.
免责声明:这篇文章是为信息小狗oses only. It does not constitute, replace, or qualify as any form of first aid training.