The Evolution of Daddy Longlegs
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The fossil presents evidence that while ancient harvestmen shared lineage, they were not spiders. University of Manchester paleontologist Russell Garwood concluded, "Although they have eight legs, harvestmen are not spiders. They are more closely related to another arachnid, the scorpion." To provide further evidence towards this evolutionary discovery, scientists set out to discover if any genetic remnants remained for the 'lost' pair of eyes. Indeed, there remains dormant genetic coding for an additional set of eyes in the modern harvestmen.
The number of eyes is not the only physical feature that separates harvestmen from spiders, but it was the last lingering question. At a quick glance, the harvestmen superficially shares similarities to the cellar spider (Pholcus phalangioides),
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Harvestmen live for about a year and die off in cold weather, and the cellar spider can live about 3 years. Despite urban myths about their nefarious nature, both the harvestmen and the cellar spider are non-biting and non-poisonous. In truth, harvestmen are a great value to gardeners, as they control unwanted insect, slug, and mite populations. The cellar spider builds its web in ceiling corners to trap common indoor nuisances like other spiders, moths, gnats, flies, and mosquitoes, which should be enough of a benefit for even the worst arachnophobe to find some semblance of tolerance.
This is Deb Duxbury, for Animal Life, reminding you to please spay or neuter your pet.
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