Harvestman

What it does

Harvestmen are slow-moving, non-aggressive arachnids that scavenge and hunt tiny prey. They cannot spin webs and do not build them. When threatened they may bob their bodies, play dead, release a mild defensive odor, or drop a leg to escape. They often gather in loose clusters in humid, sheltered spots and are harmless to people.

Where it lives

They live in gardens, leaf litter, woodpiles, and on shaded walls, fences, and foundations, favoring damp, cool spots. Indoors they turn up in basements, garages, crawl spaces, and shaded corners, especially in late summer and fall. They are found nationwide and are among the most familiar backyard arachnids.

How it breeds

Most species live about a year. Females lay eggs in soil or damp crevices in fall, and these hatch into nymphs that resemble tiny adults and molt several times as they grow. In much of the country a single generation matures over the season, with adults most visible in late summer and autumn.

What it eats

Harvestmen are omnivores, feeding on small insects, mites, aphids, and other tiny invertebrates, as well as decaying plant and animal matter and fungi. This diet makes them modest natural helpers in gardens rather than a threat to plants or people.

Identification

A harvestman has a single, oval, one-piece body (no visible 'waist') with two eyes on a small turret and, usually, extremely long thin legs. This one-piece body separates it from true spiders, which have two body segments. Note that 'daddy longlegs' is also used for cellar spiders and crane flies, which are different animals.

Signs of an infestation

• Small round-bodied arachnids with very long legs on walls
• Loose clusters in shaded, humid corners
• No webs present, since harvestmen do not spin silk
• Sightings increasing in late summer and fall
• Harmless individuals in basements, garages, and gardens

Prevention tips

• Reduce dampness in basements, crawl spaces, and garages
• Clear leaf litter, woodpiles, and debris from against the house
• Seal gaps around doors, windows, and the foundation
• Sweep or gently relocate individuals rather than spraying
• Reduce exterior lighting that attracts the insects they eat

Professional solutions

Harvestmen almost never need professional control. They are beneficial, harmless, and easily swept up or guided outside. If large numbers gather in a damp basement or crawl space, reducing moisture and clutter resolves it. Pesticides are unwarranted for an animal that poses no risk and helps control smaller pests.