Is the daddy long legs spider the most deadly spider?

Answer 1

According to urban legend, daddy long-legs produce the most potent venom of any spider, but their fangs aren’t strong enough to penetrate human skin. This isn’t true.

The name "daddy long-legs" is used to refer to several species, including some Spiders, but none of them are particularly venomous. When you think of "daddy long-legs," you’re probably thinking of one of these creatures:

• Pholcidae - Spiders in the Pholcidae family are found throughout the world, and they frequently build their messy webs in attics, crawlspaces, and other undisturbed areas. They’re also known as cellar spiders.iStock.com/johnandersonphoto

  Pholcidae are not dangerous to humans. Their fangs are short, but capable of penetrating human skin. A 2019 study published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution found that the "effects of bites on humans and other mammals are inconsequential."

  However, Pholcidae seem to have different peptides and proteins than those found in other spiders' venom; this could explain why Pholcidae regularly prey on spiders that are far more dangerous to mammals. Some Pholcidae, for instance, prey on spiders in the Black Widow family.

  That’s one possible explanation for the myth—someone saw a Pholcidae preying on a dangerous spider, and incorrectly assumed that this meant the Pholcidae was more dangerous to humans. Alas, nature doesn’t really work that way.

  "Documented bites on humans make clear that while these spiders can bite, the typical result is a mild sting with no long-lasting effects," the study’s authors wrote.

  Of course, ethical issues prevent scientists from subjecting people to spider bites, so most of what we know about Pholcidae bites comes from chemical analyses and anecdotal evidence. One such piece of evidence: In a 2004 episode of the Discovery Channel show Mythbusters, host Adam Savage intentionally agitated one of the spiders and was bitten; he reported a mild burning sensation that lasted a few seconds.

• Harvestmen - This common name refers to Opiliones, an order of scavenger arachnids found worldwide. They’re frequently found in damp, undisturbed areas, but they do not build webs. Opiliones have eight long legs, but they’re not technically spiders. They have no venom glands of any kind.iStock.com/Filippo Carlot

  Harvestmen do not have fangs; instead, they have chelicerae, which they use to grasp their food. On most species, these appendages are small and not capable of breaking human skin.

• Crane Flies - These insects are certainly the outlier on this list; they’re not spiders, and they don’t look anything like spiders. They have six legs, wings, and an adult lifespan of about 10 to 15 days.iStock.com/Ines Carrara

  Crane flies don’t have jaws or venom, so they’re completely harmless to humans. In some parts of the world, their larvae is considered a delicacy.

In case you’re curious, the most venomous spider in the world is probably Atrax robustus, according to Guinness World Records, which defines “most venomous" as “most toxic to humans.” Atrax robustus is better known as the Sydney funnel-web spider, and it’s native to Australia (where else?).

iStock.com/Ken Griffiths

For primates unlucky enough to suffer a bite, 0.2 milligrams of venom per kilogram of body weight is a fatal dose. The good news: There’s an effective antivenom, and no fatalities have been recorded since the antivenom’s introduction.

Answer 2

Not at all. Black widows are by far the most common poisonous spider bite in the United States. Black Widow Spiders are most common in the tropics and the Southern United States, but have been reported as far north as Canada. They spin an irregular web in crevices and dark places. They have long legs and dark, black bodies. The female is the poisonous one, the male is smaller with no marking and harmless.

The Brown Recluse Spider is another one of the most poisonous spiders. Its danger is primarily in tissue damage. Its poison kills the cells and tissue at the bite.

There is a myth about Daddy Long Legs being the most venomous of spiders, but its jaws are too small to bite, however this is a complete fallacy, as none of these species have venom glands or fangs. They are completely harmless and are not poisonous. Many species that are referred to as "daddy log legs" are not even a member of the spider family and are in fact insects, such as Crane flies and Harvestmen.

3/28/10- Above statement is not true! According to a spider expert on mythbusters Daddy long leg spiders have an average fang length of a 1/4 millimeter. They proved that they can puncture the skin.

Answer 3

No, this couldn't be farther from the truth. Daddy Longlegs are completely harmless, having no source of venom or poison in their system or mouthparts that would harm a human or other animal. Daddy longlegs are a source of food for different species of birds.

If we were to talk about spiders like the Black Widow, well that's an entirely different story!

Answer 4

No. Firstly, daddy long legs technically aren't spiders. Secondly they're not venomous. See the "Spider Myths" links for more info.

Answer 5

Not by a long shot. In fact they can't harm humans at all.

Answer 6

No

Answer 7

N-O

Answer 8

no