Arachnid · GBIF taxon 5776654
European Harvestman
Phalangium opilioAlso known as Daddy Longlegs, European Daddy Longlegs
European harvestmen move across garden foliage and soil on eight delicate, thread-like legs, using their long second pair of legs as sensory antennae to probe their surroundings. Unlike true spiders, their fused body segments lack a narrow waist, and males feature prominent horn-like projections on their jaws used during courtship combat. They act as beneficial generalist predators in farmland and backyards, consuming soft-bodied pests like aphids, mites, and small caterpillars.
ArachnidNocturnalBeneficial
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aphids
- Mites
- Small caterpillars
Predators
- Songbirds
- Ground beetles
- Toads
ThreatsBroad-spectrum pesticides and land clearing
HabitatsGardens, agricultural fields, grasslands, forest edges, and parks
Life span1 year
Classification
- OrderOpiliones
- FamilyPhalangiidae
- GenusPhalangium
- SpeciesPhalangium opilio
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Night Scouting: Look on garden foliage or exterior walls near lights after dusk when they actively hunt.
- Gentle Handling: Allow them to walk onto an open palm without trapping or pulling their delicate legs.
- Garden Safeguards: Reduce pesticide use to support these natural pest controllers in your yard.
Co-occurring Species (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Look-alike Spider (c) Michael, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Nikita Gerasin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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