harvestmen

(Order Opiliones)

Overview
harvestman (Opiliones)
Photo by Alfredo Colon
 

Opilliones is a class of arachnids known as harvestmen or colloquially as daddy-long-legs. There are more than 6,650 harvestmen species currently recognized worldwide, though the actual number of living species is thought to be close to 10,000. More than 100 species have been recorded in North America north of Mexico, and at least 22 species have been recorded in Minnesota. They are very common and very widespread, occurring on every continent including Antarctica, where they were undoubtedly introduced by humans.

 
 

Harvestmen are found in a wide variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, mountains, caves, and human dwellings. Most feed on small insects, plant material, and fungi. Some are scavengers and feed on carrion and fecal matter. Most species are active at night.

             
 
Description
 
 

As with all arachnids, the body has two sections, the cephalothorax, consisting of the head and thorax, and the abdomen. However, unlike spiders, the connection between the two sections is broad, making the body appear to be a single segment. There is a siingle pair of eyes in the middle of the cephalothorax, but these eyes cannot form images. On most species, the legs are very long relative to the body size. The second pair of legs are longest and function as antennae or feelers.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

7, 24, 29, 30, 82.

 
  10/9/2021      
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Arachnida (arachnids)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

armoured harvestmen (suborder Laniatores)

mite harvestmen (suborder Cyphophthalmi)

suborder Dyspnoi

suborder Eupnoi

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

daddy-long-legs

harvestman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Greg Watson

 
 

Harvestman with a Hickory Hairstreak

 
    hickory hairstreak      
 

Alfredo Colon

 
    harvestman (Opiliones)   harvestman (Opiliones)  
           
    harvestman (Opiliones)   harvestman (Opiliones)  
 

Bill Reynolds

 
 

Hanging Around in a Tansy Patch

 
    harvestman (Opiliones)      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Harvestmen
Andree Reno Sanborn
 
  Harvestmen  
  Harvestman sp. (Ontario)
Allen Chartier
 
  Harvestman sp. (Ontario)  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
     
     
     

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this arachnid.

 
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  Greg Watson
8/21/2023

Location: Magelssen Bluff Park

Harvestman with a Hickory Hairstreak

hickory hairstreak  
  Alfredo Colon
8/13/2019

Location: Woodbury, MN

harvestman (Opiliones)  
  Alfredo Colon
8/4/2019

Location: Woodbury, MN

harvestman (Opiliones)  
  Alfredo Colon
6/9/2018

Location: Woodbury, MN

harvestman (Opiliones)  
  Bill Reynolds
8/20/2003

Location: St. Louis Co.

harvestman (Opiliones)  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars


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