Daddy Longlegs Collecting (Opiliones)
- Safety - before heading out on the trail please see "For Your Safety".
- Everyone collecting specimens in the Park is required to obtain a collecting permit. This can be applied for online on the National Park Service Research Permit and Reporting System.
“Along came a spider and set down beside her, and chased her away” ---- but, it wasn’t a ‘daddy-long-legs’, sometimes known as ‘Harvestman’. If you like to prowl around old buildings this is right up your alley! Everybody knows this creature – little boys have been scaring little girls with it forever! But, science does not know which species can be found in the Smokies. That’s where you come in. |
 Photo by Charles Wilder. |
Collecting Instructions:
- The fun part about this is to collect everything
that looks like an Opiliones.
- Even if you collect a spider (not directly related) that’s OK, too, but just be careful and don’t get bit!
- Use either forceps, or if you prefer a capture jar or cup, and transfer the catch to a vial containing some alcohol, supplied by ATBI.
- Label each collecting
vial by the site (use building name), date and/or season, and your initial.
- Start a separate vial for each new building site.
- Label numbers should correspond to the numbers given in your field notes.
- Two labels can be used; a smaller one to be placed in the vial, and a larger one to hold more information as noted above.
- In the field journal (and large label
if possible) locate and describe the structure, especially if it is wood
or stone.
- Use a GPS if available (see Guidelines for Collecting GPS Data).
- Note whether the specimen was collected on the N, S, E, or W side (this might require more than one vial per location).
- Mention anything unusual, along with weather conditions.
- Any spiders taken from webs should also be mentioned.
Safety Considerations for Collecting Opiliones:
- Again, use caution when capturing any spiders – their bite might not be felt immediately, but you’ll certainly know it later!
- If you are not sure you can identify the black widow or recluse spider don’t collect spiders!
- When handling Opiliones, while they cannot bite you, DO NOT rub your eyes after handling them!
- Again, be careful, for even black widows have been known to eat “daddy-long-legs”.
