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  • From: Jerry B <liberty AT kaballero.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Spider bite
  • Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:27:59 -0400

At least in the broad scan of Wikipaedia, Daddy Long Legs are getting a bum rap. Under the heading Misconceptions is found:

"An urban legend <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_legend> claims that the harvestman is the most venomous <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venom> animal in the world, but its fangs are too small to bite a human and therefore is not dangerous. (The same myth applies to the cellar spider <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellar_spider>, which is also called a daddy longlegs)^[8] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opiliones#cite_note-7> . This is untrue on several counts. None of the known species have venom glands or fangs, instead having chelicerae <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelicerae>.^[9] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opiliones#cite_note-8> The size of its mouth varies by species, but even those with relatively large jaws hardly ever bite humans or other large creatures, even in self-defense. The few known cases of actual bites did not involve envenomation, and had no lasting effect.^[10]" <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opiliones#cite_note-9>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opiliones#Misconception

---------------
someone wrote:
Virtually all spiders are venomous. Daddy-long-legs is one of the most venomous spiders in the world, but it's mouth is so small it
can't bite you.

THAT's comforting to know - just yesterday our 6 year old excitedly pointed out one in the bathroom. I said it can't hurt you and is not dangerous.

(I'll handle them MUCH more carefully from now on!)

Roy

Roy Morgan
k1lky AT earthlink.net
Lovettsville, VA 20180







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