Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Specy

European Harvestman

Arachnids

The European harvestman, Phalangium opilio, is a species of harvestman found across Europe, North and Central Asia and Asia Minor, and introduced to North America, North Africa and New Zealand, where it has become one of the most common and widespread harvestmen in human-altered landscapes such as gardens, farmland and urban areas. Adults measure roughly 3.5 to 9 millimeters in body length, with the characteristic long, delicate legs of the group, and males are distinguished by enlarged pedipalps and horn-like projections on their chelicerae that females lack. It is a generalist predator and scavenger that feeds mainly at night, taking soft-bodied insects such as aphids and caterpillars along with whatever carrion it finds.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Carnivore 1
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 1
Relationship to People
Invasive or Introduced Species 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Scientific Name
Phalangium opilio 2
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Opiliones, Taxa
Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Phalangium opilio
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Phalangium opilio (Wikipedia)Distribution: Asia
Quote, Distribution: Asia
opilio has a mostly Holarctic distribution and is the most widespread harvestman species worldwide, occurring natively in Europe, North and Central Asia, and Asia Minor.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Phalangium opilio (Wikipedia)Distribution: Canada
Quote, Distribution: Canada
In North America, it occurs in non-desert regions of southern Canada and the United States.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Phalangium opilio (Wikipedia)Distribution: Europe
Quote, Distribution: Europe
opilio has a mostly Holarctic distribution and is the most widespread harvestman species worldwide, occurring natively in Europe, North and Central Asia, and Asia Minor.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Phalangium opilio (Wikipedia)Distribution: North America
Quote, Distribution: North America
In North America, it occurs in non-desert regions of southern Canada and the United States.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Phalangium opilio (Wikipedia)Distribution: United States
Quote, Distribution: United States
In North America, it occurs in non-desert regions of southern Canada and the United States.
Sources
1. Phalangium opilio (Wikipedia)
  • Lead
    Phalangium opilio (also known as the common harvestman, brown harvestman and daddy longlegs) is a species of harvestman belonging to the family Phalangiidae.
  • Article text
    P. opilio is a generalist predator and scavenger that feeds on soft-bodied animals found in crops, such as aphids, caterpillars, leafhoppers, beetle larvae, and mites.
  • Article text, habitat sentence
    This species can be found in a wide range of open habitats, including meadows, bogs, and forests.
  • Introduced range
    The species has been introduced to North America, North Africa and New Zealand from Europe.
View the Source
2. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Phalangium opilio
GBIF Backbone TaxonomyTaxon record
Quote, Taxon record
"canonicalName": "Phalangium opilio"
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.