Diet

What does the Daddy Long Legs eat?

The daddy long legs spider is a carnivore which is famed for its ability to subdue some of the most dangerous predators in Australia.

These animals will create a silken web which will capture their prey. They then come and wrap the prey in a cocoon of silk.

They are able to consume redback spiders as their long, thin legs are difficult for the redback to bite to protect themselves.

Some have also been observed to capture and consume brown snakes which become trapped in their silk web.

They have been recorded to engage in cannibalism.

Learn more about the Daddy Long Legs in this video from Live Science on YouTube

Range

Where do you find the Daddy Long Legs?

The daddy long legs is found globally. This species was introduced to Australia from Europe.

Habitat

Where can the Daddy Long Legs survive?

They are most often found in dark areas which are rarely subject to disturbance.

This species is commonly associated with homes and they are prevalent in crevices behind furniture. They are more commonly seen inside during winter when they seek out the warmth offered by these habitats.

These spiders are most often seen on their web. This is a messy, tangled web of silk.

Along with making their own web they have also been recorded taking the nest of other species.

Credit: Géry PARENT, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Reproduction

How does the Daddy Long Legs produce its young?

Breeding takes place year round. Males are cautious as they approach the female for breeding.

Each clutch produced by the female includes 50 or more eggs. She may produce as many as eight of these during her life. The eggs are deposited in a silk sac which she will then carry in her mouth.

These eggs incubate for 17-24 days. Following hatching the young remain on their mother's back until they are ready to live.

Young remain on the mothers web for 9 days until they complete their first shed.

These animals will reach maturity within one year.

Behavior

What does the Daddy Long Legs do during its day?

These animals are solitary and maintain their own web.

Males are able to locate females using the pheromones which they emit.

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Predators and Threats

What stops the Daddy Long Legs from surviving and thriving?

Birds will prey on the daddy long legs spider.

When the web is disturbed they will begin to sway it rapidly. This can make the spider difficult to see and may act as a form of camouflage.

Quick facts

The daddy long legs is best known for a myth. They are often quoted as the world's most venomous spider. The myth follows that they only don't harm humans as their fangs are too small to bite us. This is untrue and they are able to bite.

If bitten by any spider you should seek medical treatment if there is any reaction.

They may also be known as the long-bodied cellar spider or the skull spider due to the similarity between their abdomen and a human skull.

This species was first described for modern science in 1775.

Credit: Luis Fernández García, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons