Ugly and scary little monster in the porch

[sabasgr68]

It´s an Opilion (Wikipedia: The Opiliones (formerly Phalangida) are an order of arachnids colloquially known as harvestmen, harvesters, or daddy longlegs. Although superficially similar to and often misidentified as spiders (order Araneae), the Opiliones are a distinct order that is not closely related to spiders).

They don´t represent a danger to people, but they sure can scare you big time if you feel one climbing in your leg... (It did not happen, but just imagine it...).

I just took the short video and let it be, chasing its night food. They are regulars in the porch.

[glasshand]

I remember those guys - they were all over at the summer camp that I went to as a kid. They were always called daddy longlegs here in the northeastern US. We used to pick them up and play with them, they were so harmless (and not very fast-moving, either).

[mickey]

I remember those guys - they were all over at the summer camp that I went to as a kid. They were always called daddy longlegs here in the northeastern US. We used to pick them up and play with them, they were so harmless (and not very fast-moving, either).

I still dislike them. for about one week per year we get thousands of them! Harmless yes, slow moving yes, but how would you like a million of them on your porch?

[toomanycats]

How timely, a spider thread.

A couple weeks ago I discovered this guy living in my basement around the sump pit. I do believe it’s the biggest spider I’ve ever seen, outside a pet tarantula a friend once had. Mrs toomanycats said it’s a wolf spider. The circumstance of the legs is about the top of a tuna fish can. I’ve got no problem with him living down there and wouldn’t think of harming him, but God help him if the cats find out he’s there. He’s the size of a small mouse!

[BatUtilityBelt]

Outside, they're fine. Inside the house, I murder them. One spider can lay hundreds of eggs, and I don't want to raise them. I am an equal opportunity murderer, as I do not tend to differentiate between officially spiders and spider-looking creatures. But again, they can live right outside my house with no issues.

[glasshand]

I've always rather liked spiders, although I agree that I wouldn't want a house full of them. OTOH, if you have a house full of them, it probably means you have a house full of something else, since spiders are predators, and probably better a house full of spiders than a house full of whatever else it was.

When I was a kid, I once looked out the window of my grandmother's kitchen, and sitting right outside the window was a little black spider with brilliant iridescent green "fangs", which many years later I identified as a bold jumping spider. (The "fangs" are actually the chelicerae, which are kind of the base of the true fangs.)



And just the other week, I was at my in-laws' place, and I spotted a tiny spider in the house, and Google Lens (which has gotten really good lately, BTW) identified it as the twin-flagged jumping spider.

[sabasgr68]

I remember those guys - they were all over at the summer camp that I went to as a kid. They were always called daddy longlegs here in the northeastern US. We used to pick them up and play with them, they were so harmless (and not very fast-moving, either).

Dude, you were fearless...

[sabasgr68]

I remember those guys - they were all over at the summer camp that I went to as a kid. They were always called daddy longlegs here in the northeastern US. We used to pick them up and play with them, they were so harmless (and not very fast-moving, either).

I still dislike them. for about one week per year we get thousands of them! Harmless yes, slow moving yes, but how would you like a million of them on your porch?

I agree. I always see one or two walking around OUTSIDE the house, and not that often - which doesn´t mean they´re not there wandering around -, so they´re not a problem, but a full colony, well, that´s another subject!

[sabasgr68]

How timely, a spider thread.

A couple weeks ago I discovered this guy living in my basement around the sump pit. I do believe it’s the biggest spider I’ve ever seen, outside a pet tarantula a friend once had. Mrs toomanycats said it’s a wolf spider. The circumstance of the legs is about the top of a tuna fish can. I’ve got no problem with him living down there and wouldn’t think of harming him, but God help him if the cats find out he’s there. He’s the size of a small mouse!

80B8CC06-FCF7-43E6-B906-B91A0E10C2CB.jpeg

It better watch where it moves then...

Yeah, I usually don´t kill insects or animals around, as long as they don´t invade the house, and even in those cases, I usually take them outside if I find one inside the house - cockroaches don´t have that luck, though -, as long as they don´t represent any threat - like building a nest inside -. Thank God there aren´t that many bugs. Even small snakes have appeared once in a while; just once one showed from below our bed, but usually I just find them dead already outside or on the road, baby size (I like snakes, BTW).

[sabasgr68]

Outside, they're fine. Inside the house, I murder them. One spider can lay hundreds of eggs, and I don't want to raise them. I am an equal opportunity murderer, as I do not tend to differentiate between officially spiders and spider-looking creatures. But again, they can live right outside my house with no issues.

Yeah, it´s simple; safe zone, danger zone - for them -. No cats at home? They can take care of them if they find them...

[sabasgr68]

I've always rather liked spiders, although I agree that I wouldn't want a house full of them. OTOH, if you have a house full of them, it probably means you have a house full of something else, since spiders are predators, and probably better a house full of spiders than a house full of whatever else it was.

When I was a kid, I once looked out the window of my grandmother's kitchen, and sitting right outside the window was a little black spider with brilliant iridescent green "fangs", which many years later I identified as a bold jumping spider. (The "fangs" are actually the chelicerae, which are kind of the base of the true fangs.)



And just the other week, I was at my in-laws' place, and I spotted a tiny spider in the house, and Google Lens (which has gotten really good lately, BTW) identified it as the twin-flagged jumping spider.

Yes, spiders will help keep clean the house from other bugs, but the idea of a house full of spiders is kinda creepy, at the same time haha...

I like those jumping spiders, they are funny. We have some of them too - outside -. And two or three small geckos. But very rarely I´ve found them inside. I like geckos too. Geckos are friends with @Tonray's Ghost , he always have them visiting his home

[toomanycats]

Since were talking about creepy crawlies, this the black snake that lives around my house. He’s about 7 ft long and as fat around as my wrist. The cats don’t even bother messing with him. most times I see him he's up in a tree. Between the giant snake and the merciless pride of felines that constantly patrols it must really suck to be a rodent on my property.

[BatUtilityBelt]

Yeah, it´s simple; safe zone, danger zone - for them -. No cats at home? They can take care of them if they find them...

Hah, absolutely! I wasn't going to mention it because it's kinda gross, but my dogs used to catch and eat spiders. By the look on their faces, I could tell the spiders tasted horrible, but that's just how my dogs decided to kill things they didn't like.

[sabasgr68]

Since were talking about creepy crawlies, this the the black snake that lives around my house. He’s about 7 ft long and as fat around as my wrist. The cats don’t even bother messing with him. most times I see him he's up in a tree. Between the giant snake and the merciless pride of felines that constantly patrols it must really suck to be a rodent on my property.


01DF4B4A-FADD-45C5-9910-D0AD11D8F160.jpeg

7 ft ( 2 good meters here) is a lot of snake to consider, all the more if it´s as fat as you say. Too much for a home cat, and too much for the poor rodents there, you´re right

Doesn´t appear to be venomous in that picture, but I can´t tell for sure, of course.

Yeah! Keep it coming with more critters, everybody!

[toomanycats]

Since were talking about creepy crawlies, this the the black snake that lives around my house. He’s about 7 ft long and as fat around as my wrist. The cats don’t even bother messing with him. most times I see him he's up in a tree. Between the giant snake and the merciless pride of felines that constantly patrols it must really suck to be a rodent on my property.


01DF4B4A-FADD-45C5-9910-D0AD11D8F160.jpeg

7 ft ( 2 good meters here) is a lot of snake to consider, all the more if it´s as fat as you say. Too much for a home cat, and too much for the poor rodents there, you´re right

Doesn´t appear to be venomous in that picture, but I can´t tell for sure, of course.

Yeah! Keep it coming with more critters, everybody!

No, black snakes are not venomous. However, they do kill copperhead snakes, which are are venomous and also live around here. I'd never kill a black snake.

[sabasgr68]

Yeah, it´s simple; safe zone, danger zone - for them -. No cats at home? They can take care of them if they find them...

Hah, absolutely! I wasn't going to mention it because it's kinda gross, but my dogs used to catch and eat spiders. By the look on their faces, I could tell the spiders tasted horrible, but that's just how my dogs decided to kill things they didn't like.

Ha, you made me remember my dogs - 35 years ago at least -; they catched spiders and bugs, but didn´t eat them, just killed them, but their faces while the thing was in their snout (I had to look out for that word ) was very funny LOL.

So, it´s ok, you have your dog patrol.

[glasshand]

I like those jumping spiders, they are funny. We have some of them too - outside -. And two or three small geckos. But very rarely I´ve found them inside. I like geckos too. Geckos are friends with @Tonray's Ghost , he always have them visiting his home

When I was visiting my in-laws, one evening I found a small lizard (a gecko, I think) in the house. You see them outside a lot, but they don't usually come into the house. Fortunately I was able to catch the lizard and let it go outside before the dog found it!

When I was living in Arizona many years ago, at night all these little white lizards would come out and hang on the walls of the building. I always wanted to catch one, but they somehow knew to stay just high enough to be out of reach. Then one evening one foolish lizard was too low on the wall. I cupped my hands and got him...and suddenly there was something wriggling and thrashing in my hands and I let it go in surprise! - and of course the lizard ran off, leaving only its tail wriggling on the ground. I had read about that before, and I always thought "Well, that might work on a cat or something..." but I never thought it would work on me!