Species: Harvestman - unnamed 2 (Dicranopalpus ramosus)
Family: Harvestmen (PHALANGIIDAE)
Category: Arachnids
Location: Widespread
A. Arachnids
More extensive information on arachnids can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Harvestmen (PHALANGIIDAE)
The Phalangiidae are a family of harvestmen (sometimes known as harvesters or daddy longlegs). They are arachnids. Wikipedia says that as of April 2017, there were over 6,650 species of harvestmen worldwide, with a possible total in excess of 10,000. They exist on all continents except Antarctica, and have been found in the fossil record dating back 400 million years.
Many harvestmen are omnivores that eat plant material and other insects. Many are scavengers. As carnivores, they ambush their prey, with their legs being of more use than their eyes.
C. Harvestman - unnamed 2 (Dicranopalpus ramosus)
Dicranopalpus ramosus is a harvestman with a body of between 5 and 6 millimetres, although their legs can span 10 centimetres, as can be seen from the photographs below. Compared to other harvestman arachnids, this species has elongated pedipalps that appear forked. (In arachnids, pedipalps sit between the jaws and the legs, and function as taste and smell organs, and perhaps prey claspers or feeding aids.)
These creatures are found in gardens between August and November. They originated in Mexico and have spread widely, appearing first in Britain in Bournemouth in 1957.
Images
Harvestman - unnamed 2 (Dicranopalpus ramosus)
Dicranopalpus ramosus is a harvestman with a body of between 5 and 6 millimetres, although their legs can span 10 centimetres.
Harvestman - unnamed 2 (Dicranopalpus ramosus)
Compared to other harvestman arachnids, this species has elongated pedipalps that appear forked. (In arachnids, pedipalps sit between the jaws and the legs, and function as taste and smell organs, and perhaps prey claspers or feeding aids.)
