What Do Long Leg Spiders Eat?

what do long leg spiders eat

You may wonder, what do long leg spiders eat? Here is a short guide to find out: Habitat, Venom, Eggs, and Prey. To make the most informed decision, you must have some knowledge about these creatures. If you don’t, you must do some research. It’s worth it! Just read this article to learn more about this awesome creature. We hope this article helps you better understand these venomous creatures.

Chewy Online Pet Supplies


35% Off at Chewy.com

+ Free Shipping

Save Now

Contents

Prey

Despite the common misconception, long leg spiders can eat a variety of prey. Typically, daddy long legs feed on bird droppings, but these spiders can also find food in plant matter. The fact that they feed on plant matter makes them very resourceful. They will eat anything and everything if they have to. In addition, they can sometimes catch larger spiders that live in their habitat.

Habitat

The Habitat of Long Leg Spiders has a variety of environments that they inhabit. Their habitat includes wooded areas, plant detritus, under rocks, loose tree bark, and human habitations. They are most common in attics, garages, and basements. They are not known to bite humans. Their webs are often messy and the male is cautious when approaching the female. They have a short life span, ranging from a few months to seven years.

Venom

Venom from long-legged spiders is a potent irritant. The fangs of this species, also known as daddy long-legs or harvestman, pierce human skin, causing a burning sensation. However, these stings are not as severe as those of the black widow spider, which can be fatal. In most cases, people who are bitten by this spider recover within 24 hours, whereas others may experience only the sting itself.

Eggs

Long leg spiders are carnivorous. Their diet includes many insects, invertebrates, and even their own legs. When food is scarce, they even feed on their own legs. Daddy longlegs spiders are particularly deadly, as their venom is potent enough to kill a redback spider. When disturbed, these spiders will shake and drop off their webs, hurling silk and dropping their eggs.

Egg sacs

The female thin-legged wolf spiders produce an egg sac, usually of silk, and deposit hundreds of eggs inside it. Some species may carry the sac around, and some simply deposit it in a safe, protected location. Wolf spiders, however, lug the egg sac around until it hatches and the spiderlings are ready to disperse. The females of both types of species will protect the sac with their mouthparts, and the young spiders will stay attached to the mother for about a week before dispersing.

Defense mechanisms

In addition to their many other defensive behaviors, long leg spiders have evolved unique defense mechanisms over their 400 million-year history. Many species of these spiders expel defensive liquids from their scent glands and smear these substances on prey. The chemical composition of these defenses varies among species. In order to protect themselves from larger predators, these spiders must be able to smear defensive liquids on prey.

Common names

Daddy long leg spider is a common name for these spiders. This type of spider is a member of the Pholcidae family, and it is often found in the basement or other dark, damp places. They have eight long legs, and their webs are usually untidy and irregular. There are some species of daddy long legs spider with only six eyes. Regardless of their name, you should be very cautious if you see them.