Nature
You might have heard the rumor that daddy long legs possess the most potent poison in the animal kingdom, but can’t deliver it because they have no teeth. While that sounds perfectly in character for Mother Nature, it’s actually not true. No, daddy long legs are not poisonous, and the background to the urban legend takes us on a journey of confused classifications and the difference between venomous and poisonous.
The daddy long legs is a perplexing creature for many reasons, not least because there isn’t a great consensus on what one is. Several species have been given the nickname that reads like the naming scientist was feeling frisky that day. However, you can rest assured that poison is not their prerogative.
What are daddy long legs?
Depending on who you speak to, a (grand) daddy long legs can be anything from harvestmen, to long-legged spiders, and craneflies. According to the Burke Museum’s spider myths series, the ranging definitions of daddy long legs include one true spider, Pholcus phalangioides, and a few thousand species that aren’t spiders, including harvestmen and crane flies.
So, choose your poison when it comes to daddy long legs definitions, and on that note…
Poisonous Vs Venomous
Venomous creatures inject their toxin into you because it requires an active delivery system. It could be from the stinger of an insect, or the fangs of a venomous snake.
Lots of things can be classed as poisons but you have to physically ingest the toxin present in the poison for it to affect you. It is passively absorbed through ingestion, inhalation, or by making contact with skin.
So…
Are daddy long legs poisonous?
No, daddy long legs are not poisonous. The idea comes from a widespread urban legend that daddy long legs pack a record-breaking toxin potent enough to kill us, but they don’t have strong enough fangs to bite.
Were this true, the delivery of the toxin through a bite – however epically they allegedly fail – would put them in the venomous camp, which is strike one for the “poisonous” idea. Strike two is that it also has no basis in reality.
Of our three key daddy long leg candidates – harvestmen, crane flies, and Pholcus phalangioides, the spider – only the spider has venom. However, it’s not considered medically relevant for human health, and the venom certainly isn't a record-breaker among spiders.
And if you’re thinking of eating a daddy long legs, we suggest you go sit in the shade for a bit. These leggy critters aren’t your daddy, and they’re not a snack.
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