The Wildlife of
Croome

 
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Spiders - The Harvestman

First seen on Monday 24th July 2017 at Croome

Despite having eight legs, and looking like a spider, the Harvestman isn't actually a spider. Although they are Arachnids, they are Opiliones, rather than Araneidae. They don't spin webs and they don't have venom. They also have an undivided body, rather than two parts than spiders have. The length of their legs is huge! They mature late summer, hence the harvest connection.


 

Harvestman spider would be better called harvestmen as there are several species. The first one here is Leiobunum aldrichi which is characterised by its very simple red/brown body and black legs. The second photo below is Mitopus morio which as you can see has a more complex body pattern.