I found these two mini-beasties lurking on the outside of my building the other day. They may look like spiders but they’re not really – they’re Harvestmen (Opiliones species). Unlike true spiders, Harvestmen can’t spin webs and their bodies have only one segment, not two. They’re completely harmless – no venom – and, I think, rather prehistoric looking.
And I just discovered this very interesting but slightly creepy snippet of information about them on the UK Safari website:
When attacked, harvestmen are able to shed a leg as a defensive trick. Even after the leg becomes detached from the body it continues to jump and flick about. This distracts the predator while the harvestman makes its escape. They are able to shed up to four legs in this way, but they need to retain at least one of the sensory legs to survive.
Toffeeapple said:
I was thinking about this again, today, and believe that I only see them when I am leaving the flat or coming in again at which time I do not wear my reading glasses, so I have been ‘mis-seeing’ them, in that I had assumed they had the Harvestman body.
So that is, probably, that subject sorted! Thanks for your patience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Toffeeapple said:
And, now look at what this man says about two body-parts!
https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/145584492/posts/783
LikeLiked by 1 person
sconzani said:
Hmmm, well that’s not what the British Arachnological Society says on its website but I’m not going to dissect one to find out.
http://britishspiders.org.uk/wiki2015/index.php?title=Category:Opiliones
LikeLiked by 1 person
Toffeeapple said:
That link that I sent just came up at the bottom of a WordPress Site when I was not looking for anything about it! I shall look at your link tomorrow, thank you, you are so patient with me…
LikeLiked by 1 person
sconzani said:
Google knows what you’re thinking before you even think it! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
sconzani said:
I use my reading glasses as an excuse not to have noticed dust accumulating around my flat. Just saying! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Toffeeapple said:
Dust? What is that?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
sconzani said:
Hehe.
LikeLike
pilipala51 said:
Very interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Toffeeapple said:
Well, mine certainly dangle and they are definitely not spiders (those are not allowed in my home).
LikeLiked by 1 person
sconzani said:
I’m saying no more in case you decide they are actually spiders and banish them! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Toffeeapple said:
Do you suppose that I have mutant Harvestmen here? The babies are so pale that they almost get swept up from time to time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
sconzani said:
I was thinking perhaps Daddy Longlegs spiders, which are similar to Harvestmen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Toffeeapple said:
I have come to the point of accepting your pronouncement – and and being very brave about it. I liked them before I knew what they really were so I shall continue to do so. Get me – being brave about spiders in the house (and garage where they make ropes to dangle from).
LikeLiked by 1 person
sconzani said:
Well done you! I’m ever so pleased. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Toffeeapple said:
Aren’t they superb? I have quite a collection between my landing and the front door, downstairs. They vary in size from tiny to quite large; the latter manage to grab the big spiders and suck out all the goodness whilst dangling on a slender silk, half way to the floor from the ceiling
LikeLiked by 1 person
sconzani said:
How wonderful, except I wonder if yours are Harvestmen as you mention them dangling on a silk thread – or did you mean the spiders were dangling? Harvestmen don’t have a silk gland so they can’t produce silk.
LikeLiked by 1 person