this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2025
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[–] nocturne@slrpnk.net 55 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

The colloquial name daddy-long-legs is often used to refer to Pholcidae, harvestmen, and crane flies. This name originates in Faroese as "lokki-grindalokki-grindalokkur" which literally translates to "daddy-long-legs". It is likely a kenning and more accurately translates to "grandfather of web spinners" as it refers to the Nordic god Loki who was associated with spiders in folklore.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pholcidae

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 12 points 4 months ago (4 children)

Huh, who uses that term for "crane flies"? We (US) use it for Pholcidae, and I think I've heard harvestmen called that on Australia or something, but never crane flies.

[–] horseloaf@piefed.zip 15 points 4 months ago

The UK uses it for crane flies.

[–] burgersc12@mander.xyz 12 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Definitely depends on the region, cause daddy long legs are harvestmen (northeast US) e.g. dll vs cellar spider

[–] Skua@kbin.earth 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I think Ireland does. I occasionally hear it here in the UK, though it typically means harvestmen here

[–] FishFace@piefed.social 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I always heard it used for both and it confused me that they were two different things.

[–] Skua@kbin.earth 1 points 4 months ago

I suppose it could depend on the region? We've got a very dense patchwork of dialects and they'll naturally bleed into one another a fair bit

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

We use skeeter bomber/eater for crane flies, depending on how recently they've eaten

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 14 points 4 months ago (1 children)
[–] buddascrayon@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Not a spider, but still pretty freaky.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

cellar spiders aren't spiders?

[–] buddascrayon@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

What's being talked about in this thread are not cellar spiders. But a different species that is also referred to as Daddy Long legs called a harvestman. Which is an arachnid but not a spider.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

harvestmen, cellar spiders, and crane flies are each called "daddy long legs" depending on your region. here it's cellar spiders. crane flies are mosquito eaters and we don't have harvestmen.

[–] cRazi_man@europe.pub 4 points 4 months ago

Don't want people to confuse the insect with the movie.