9.22.2009

Daddy Long-Legs Debunked

Daddy Long-Legs (or Pholcus Phalangiodes technically), which I find to be the most adorably awkward of all household spiders, supposedly secrete a venom that is extremely poisonous to humans, but have jaws that are too tiny to penetrate our skin.

I have spread this rumor myself on several occasions, but recently learned that it's a myth. Mythbusters themselves tested it out, and found that when extremely threatened Daddy Long-Legs can bite humans, but their venom isn't very harmful at all. Scientists have found that their venom isn't too poisonous to other insects as well.

Good thing they have a back-up plan: Daddy Long-Legs can make their bodies vibrate extremely quickly, making themselves an almost-invisible blur to enemies. Not a bad idea. :)

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