As pest management professionals serving the Windsor and Essex County area, we often get calls about “daddy longlegs” in and around homes. It’s a common concern, and while these long-legged creatures might look similar at a glance, it’s important to understand that the term “daddy longlegs” actually refers to two distinct types of arachnids: harvestmen and cellar spiders.
Knowing the difference between these two can help you understand why they might be in your home and what you can do to prevent them.
Two Different Kinds of “Daddy Longlegs”
1. Harvestmen (Opiliones): The True “Daddy Longlegs”
These are not actually spiders at all! Harvestmen belong to their own order, Opiliones.
- Appearance: Their most distinguishing feature is their single, fused body. There’s no clear separation between their head, thorax, and abdomen. They have very long, spindly legs (hence the name) and typically just one pair of eyes on a raised bump on their back.
- Behavior: Harvestmen are omnivores and scavengers. They feed on small insects, dead bugs, decaying plant matter, and even fungi. They don’t spin webs and lack venom glands. You’ll often see them crawling around on the ground or walls. A unique defense mechanism is their ability to detach a leg when threatened, which will continue to twitch and distract predators.
- Why They’re in Your Home: In Windsor and Essex County, harvestmen are often found outdoors in gardens, under rocks, and in wooded areas. They may wander into homes, especially during cooler weather in the fall, seeking shelter or moisture. Basements, garages, and crawl spaces are common places to find them.
2. Cellar Spiders (Pholcidae): The “Daddy Longlegs Spider”
These are true spiders, belonging to the family Pholcidae.
- Appearance: Cellar spiders have a distinct two-part body: a small, oval cephalothorax and a separate abdomen connected by a narrow waist. They also have very long, delicate legs, often much longer in proportion to their body than harvestmen. They typically have eight eyes (though this can vary slightly within the family).
- Behavior: Cellar spiders are predators that build flimsy, irregular webs in dark, undisturbed corners of rooms, ceilings, and basements. They hang upside down in their webs and will quickly vibrate their bodies when disturbed, likely to confuse predators. They feed on other small insects and are actually quite effective at catching other spiders, even larger ones. Their venom is generally considered harmless to humans.
- Why They’re in Your Home: Cellar spiders thrive in dark, humid, and undisturbed environments. Basements, cellars (hence their name), crawl spaces, and garages provide ideal conditions. The presence of other insects in your home, which serve as their food source, will also attract them.
What Attracts Both Types to Your Home?
While they have different lifestyles, both harvestmen and cellar spiders are often drawn to similar conditions inside your Windsor and Essex County home:
- Dark and Quiet Spaces: Both prefer areas with low light and minimal disturbance.
- Moisture: Damp environments like basements, laundry rooms, and poorly ventilated areas are particularly attractive.
- Food Sources: While harvestmen are less targeted in their diet inside homes, the presence of other insects will certainly make an area more appealing. For cellar spiders, a readily available supply of flies, mosquitoes, ants, and other spiders is a major attractant.
- Shelter: As the seasons change, especially heading into fall and winter, both types may seek refuge inside to escape colder temperatures and harsh weather.
- Unsealed Entry Points: Cracks in foundations, gaps around windows and doors, and openings in vents can all provide easy access for these long-legged visitors.
How to Prevent “Daddy Longlegs” in Your Windsor & Essex County Home
Preventing an influx of both harvestmen and cellar spiders involves addressing the conditions that attract them:
- Reduce Moisture: Use dehumidifiers in damp areas like basements and crawl spaces. Ensure proper ventilation in bathrooms and laundry rooms. Fix any leaky pipes or faucets.
- Control Other Pests: Since cellar spiders feed on other insects, managing general pest populations in your home will make it less appealing to them. Contact a professional like us for effective solutions to control ants, flies, and other common household pests.
- Seal Entry Points: Inspect the foundation of your home, as well as around windows and doors, for any cracks or gaps. Seal these openings with caulk or weather stripping. Ensure screens on windows and doors are in good repair.
- Maintain Your Yard: Clear away leaf litter, woodpiles, and other debris from around the perimeter of your home. These areas can provide harborage for harvestmen and other insects that attract cellar spiders. Trim back vegetation that touches your house.
- Improve Ventilation: Good airflow can help reduce humidity levels and make your home less appealing to both types of “daddy longlegs.”
- Regular Cleaning: Vacuum regularly to remove existing webs, egg sacs, and potential food sources. Pay attention to corners, basements, and other undisturbed areas.
Professional Pest Management in Windsor & Essex County
While “daddy longlegs” are generally harmless, their presence can be unsettling for many homeowners. If you’re dealing with a persistent population of either harvestmen or cellar spiders in your Windsor or Essex County home, or if you’re concerned about other pest issues that might be attracting them, our team is here to help.
We can provide a thorough inspection of your property, identify the specific pests you’re dealing with, and develop a customized pest management plan for spiders to address the root causes and keep your home pest-free.
Don’t let unwanted guests, no matter how long their legs, take over your home. Contact us today for expert pest control services in the Windsor and Essex County area!