Harvestmen

Harvestmen

Harvestmen are arachnids. There are more than 6,400 species of Harviestmen. They are also known as daddy longlegs or granddaddy longlegs.

Most species of harvestment are omnivores and will eat just about anything they can find. Mostly they eat small insects, plants, and fungi. Some harvestmen are scavengers.

Although harvestmen look like spiders, they are not spiders. They do not venom or silk glands like spiders. Harvestmen are not dangerous to humans.

Harvestmen have very long walking legs, compared to body size, although there are also short-legged species.They have two main body sections (the abdomen and cephalothorax). These two body parts are broadly joined, so that they appear to be one oval structure.

The harvestment have a feeding apparatus (Stomotheca) that allows them to eat their food in chunks, without needing to liquify it. Most species have a single pair of eyes in the middle of their heads, oriented horizontally. However, there are some eyeless species.

Answer the questions and post your answers on canvas or class dojo.

• How many species of harvestmen are there?

• What is another name for the harvestmen?

• Why are harvestmen not dangerous to humans?

• What are the two main body parts of the harvestmen called?

• What is special about the feeding apparatus of the harvestmen?