Kids heard that daddy longlegs (harvestmen) were deadly venomous spiders but couldn't hurt humans because their fangs couldn't penetrate skin.
Daddy longlegs aren't spiders at all, they're arachnids in a different order (Opiliones) that don't have venom or fangs. They have mouthparts but no venom glands. The myth combines multiple falsehoods into an impressive-sounding urban legend. True daddy longlegs spiders (Pholcidae) do exist and have minor venom, but they're also harmless to humans. Either way, daddy longlegs are among the most benign creatures in nature.
Reception
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Sources
- Snopes: Daddy Longlegs PRIMARY
- Wikipedia: Opiliones Harvestman REFERENCE
- Wikipedia: Pholcidae Daddy Longlegs Spider REFERENCE