Key Takeaways – Daddy Long Legs Spiders & First Aid
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Daddy-Long-Legs spiders (Pholcus phalangioides) are true spiders, commonly found in Perth homes, sheds, and garages.
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They are not dangerous to humans or pets – their venom is mild and fangs too small to cause serious harm.
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The myth that Daddy-Long-Legs have “the most toxic venom” is false; scientific studies show minimal health risk.
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They prey on other spiders, including redback spiders, as well as insects like flies, moths, and mosquitoes.
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Cellar spiders, harvestmen, and crane flies are all nicknamed “Daddy-Long-Legs” but differ in anatomy and behaviour.
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A bite may cause a short-lived burning sensation, treatable with basic spider bite first aid.
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First aid steps: clean the wound, apply a cool compress, elevate the limb, and use pain relief if needed.
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Watch for allergic reactions or anaphylaxis – symptoms include swelling, difficulty breathing, and dizziness.
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Anaphylaxis requires urgent epinephrine administration (e.g., EpiPen) by a trained first aider.
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First aid training in Perth (123C Colin St, West Perth) can prepare you to handle spider bites and other emergencies.
Is Daddy’s long legs a spider? Yes. Are daddy long legs spiders venomous? That is a question that many people have asked of the Pholcus phalangioides, especially since this Europe-found species is also in Perth. In addition, Daddy-long-leg spiders look different from the other spiders commonly found in the city. The distinct appearance of each spindly long leg makes people wonder if they are dangerous. Let’s find the answer below and see what first aid treatment may be done if they bite.
Daddy Long Legs Spiders Have the Most Toxic Venom
Yes, you read it right. Daddy long-legged spiders have the most toxic venom among all spiders. They are more evil than all the spiders in Perth, the country, and the world. The venomous long-legged spider Australia species was observed to kill and eat Redback Spiders, one of the most venomous spiders in the world. In addition, they eat other spiders and insects by catching them in their web or actively hunting for them.
The Diet of the Daddy-Long-Legs Spiders
Apart from eating another poisonous spider (redback spider Latrodectus hasselti), Daddy-long-legs spiders also eat:
- Wolf spiders
- Huntsman spiders
- False widows
- House spiders
- Hobo spiders
- Moths
- Flies
- Mites
- Mosquitos
- Crane flies
- Spider eggs
Daddy-long-legs spiders are seen making webs near these prey, which are also common in Perth.
Habitat of Daddy Long Legs Spiders
According to the Australian Museum, Daddy-long-leg spiders are mostly found inside houses. They make their webs and produce egg sacs in areas where they may not be disturbed, like:
- Under furniture.
- Behind doors.
- Corner of the ceilings.
- In sheds.
- In garages.
- Under decks.
These typical areas of the house make the daddy long-leg spider very common in Perth. This also makes them more prone to human encounters.
How long do Daddy’s long legs live? They have a lifespan of about three years. Why are Daddy’s long legs called that? Naturally, it is because of their noticeable lengthy legs attached to their oval bodies.
The Danger of Daddy Long Legs Spiders to Humans
Multiple studies were conducted to test how dangerous Daddy Long Legs spiders may be when they bite humans. One of them was by Mythbusters, an American scientific television show. It was discovered that their tiny fangs, about 0.25 mm long, could pierce human skin. The conclusion was derived after Adam Savage put his arm in a tank of Daddy Long Legs and only got a small bite.
However, their bite only caused a very mild, short-lived burning sensation. Other resources, like the Spider Research of the University of California, Riverside, also claim that the daddy-long legs venom is not harmful to humans.
What about other animals? Can daddy’s long legs hurt cats or dogs? Similar to humans, daddy’s long legs pose no threat to our pets, even if our cats eat them.
Myth on Daddy-Long-Legs Spiders
Since daddy long-leg spiders eat poisonous spiders, they were believed to have more potent venom than the redback spider and potentially the most toxic venom. However, this is not supported by any scientific evidence. In fact, in one of Life Science‘s articles, it was mentioned that a scientist did a test on the effect of a Daddy-long-legs spider bite. The scientist only had a little black mark for a day or two, which eventually disappeared.
So the same scientist said that the bite of Daddy leg spiders is not a big deal, and they are not the most toxic spiders in the world. The same scientist highlighted that he was referring to daddy-long-legs spiders, as the term “Daddy-long-legs” is a common name for three different animals: harvestmen (opilionids, a group of arachnids that include scorpions), crane flies, and pholcid spiders. So, the study refers to pholcid venom, which is found to be not as dangerous.
Other researchers state that Daddy Long-legs’ venom is less toxic than other species, such as funnel-web, black widow, and brown recluse spiders (found in North America).
Animals that are Called Daddy-long-legs
The name Daddy-long-legs is not only for spiders. It is also used to call two other animals. It is essential to differentiate them from each other as only one is an actual spider.
Cellar Spider
The Danny legs spider we are talking about is called the cellar spider, which belongs to the family Pholcidae. Like the general body structure of others, cellar spiders also have:
- Two body segments.
- Eight eyes and fangs.
- Venom ducts.
- Venom glands.
This specific daddy’s leg size is different than others. The Cellar spiders’ very long legs distinguish them from others in Perth. Their skinny legs are typically several times as long as their tiny bodies.
Harvestmen
Also called Daddy-long-legs, harvestmen are arachnids in the Order Opiliones, which have:
- A single body segment.
- Only two eyes.
They don’t have fangs or venom glands, but they have poison that works when ingested or through topical contact. This is released when they are disturbed by spraying it on the predators and parasites, killing spiders and insects.
Crane Flies
Crane flies are also considered to be Daddy’s long legs due to their long bodies and wings. They belong to the Family Tipulidae and may seem like oversized mosquitoes, but they don’t bite. It’s because they don’t have any mouthparts at all. Therefore, Daddy’s long legs are not poisonous.
First Aid for Daddy Long Legs Spider Bite
As mentioned above, Daddy Long Legs spiders are not considered poisonous. Spiders Australia categorises them as low-risk and non-aggressive. Their fangs are tiny but may still pierce human skin. Therefore, knowing certain first aid practices after they bite may help treat the possible effects of their bites. The general spider bite first aid includes the following steps:
- Cleaning the wound
- Applying cool compress
- Elevating the affected area
- Taking a pain reliever, antihistamine, or antibiotics if needed
After doing the above first aid steps, it is advised to observe the bitten area. Because there may be a need to perform additional first aid treatment, which may be learned from a first aid course in 123C Colin St West Perth 6005. A Daddy-Long-Legs spider bite may cause an infection, further signs and symptoms, or an allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis. The last one may be life-threatening, mainly if first aid response is not applied immediately.
Knowing What an Anaphylaxis Is
According to Britannica, Anaphylaxis is a severe, immediate, and possibly deadly systemic allergic reaction caused by exposure to a foreign substance to which a person has become sensitized. One such substance may be the venom of a Daddy-Long-Legs spider.
Signs and Symptoms of Anaphylaxis
Various daddy long legs bite symptoms are usually associated with allergic reactions. The signs and symptoms of Anaphylaxis may occur minutes to hours after being bitten by a Daddy-Long-Legs spider, which includes:
- Hives
- Itching
- Flushed or pale skin
- Low blood pressure
- Swollen tongue or throat that may lead to wheezing or difficulty in breathing
- Weak and rapid pulse
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Fainting
Applying the anaphylaxis first aid is advised once any of these occur.
First Aid Treatment for Anaphylaxis
A person experiencing Anaphylaxis should be injected with epinephrine immediately. This may be done using an automatic injection device like an EpiPen. Correct usage of this medical device and knowledge about appropriate dosage is essential in responding to Anaphylaxis. Therefore, epinephrine is advised to be administered by healthcare professionals or trained first aiders.
Being a Trained first-aider
First aiders are known to provide immediate assistance to persons experiencing sickness, injuries, or illnesses to prevent further harm and save someone’s life. They are trained and may also hold a valid first-aid certificate. Having a trained first aider in the family may be essential, especially if there are sick, old, or disabled members.
In addition, a workplace first aider is also required in working stations where the risk level is high. To be a trained first aider, you may check if accredited first aid course providers are in your area. First aid training is available in Perth at 123C Colin St West Perth 6005, where qualification and non-qualification first aid courses may be completed.
Conclusion
Daddy-Long-Legs Spiders are poisonous, and their bite may cause a burning sensation. However, the effect of their bites does not last long, and their venom is not harmful to humans. The myth of Daddy-Long-Legs spiders carrying the most toxic venom among all spiders came from observations of them eating redback spiders, one of the most venomous spiders in the world. Both spiders are found in Perth, so knowledge about the first aid treatment for their bites may be necessary.