65 replies to this topic

[Junior Chubb]

After a recent mention in a thread, and something my son and a friend said recently I thought I would ask the question in this poll. What is a Daddy Long Legs?

For me a Daddy Long Legs (DLL) is a Crane fly, but recently I have come across a rogue percentage of the population that refers to other creatures as DLL, the most common of these is an arachnid known as a Harvestman (a very long legged spider looking creature).

I was wondering which is the most common and if there is a right or wrong on the subject or whether it is area specific as to what a DLL is. Here are a few links if you are interested in further reading or don't have a clue what I am going on about.

Crane Fly

Harvestman

The first written mentioning of Daddy Long Legs?

Thanks for any votes and input...

Edited by Junior Chubb, 27 September 2012 - 07:25 PM.

[Armchair Educated]

ive always assume both were called daddy longs legs but known that they both cant be

[Hasina]

Here in Texas, people moronically call crane flies 'mosquito hawks' and think they eat mosquitos. -sighs-

[ThePhantomFlanFlinger]

Crane fly for me...i used to always feed them to my terrapins as a kid which is cruel when i look back now..

[None of the above]

I think that in the USA it's the Harvestman and in the UK its the Crane-fly.

[Junior Chubb]

Ever Learning, on 27 September 2012 - 07:28 PM, said:

ive always assume both were called daddy longs legs but known that they both cant be

They are both known as DLL's, I was hoping to find which was first or which is most appropriate, for me its the Crane Fly.

It might be like asking which came first, the Chicken or the Egg though...  

[Junior Chubb]

Hasina, on 27 September 2012 - 07:32 PM, said:

Here in Texas, people moronically call crane flies 'mosquito hawks' and think they eat mosquitos. -sighs-

I think you just gained a point of your 'Science test' result.

Thanks for sharing, nice to know those blighter's are well travelled...

Edited after I read your post correctly.

Edited by Junior Chubb, 27 September 2012 - 07:43 PM.

[Junior Chubb]

Atlantia, on 27 September 2012 - 07:33 PM, said:

I think that in the USA it's the Harvestman and in the UK its the Crane-fly.

This is what I have read before making the OP, I have just come across a lot of Brit's recently that go with the Harvestman though. American influence or was it just there anyway?

[Hasina]

Junior Chubb, on 27 September 2012 - 07:36 PM, said:

I think you just lost a point of your 'Science test' result.

Thanks for sharing though, nice to know those blighter's are well travelled...

Why me? Lol, I know crane fly adults don't eat! It's other Texans...

[Junior Chubb]

Hasina, on 27 September 2012 - 07:39 PM, said:

Why me? Lol, I know crane fly adults don't eat! It's other Texans...

Sorry Hasina, I amended the original post, and my 'English Literature' grade...  

[schizoidwoman]

I voted for crane fly, I've never heard it used for anything else (other than a Fred Astaire film!).

[Kasey2601]

Hasina, on 27 September 2012 - 07:32 PM, said:

Here in Texas, people moronically call crane flies 'mosquito hawks' and think they eat mosquitos. -sighs-

Well call me a moron because that's what I was always told.

[Hasina]

Junior Chubb, on 27 September 2012 - 07:44 PM, said:

Sorry Hasina, I amended the original post, and my 'English Literature' grade...  

It's all cool dude.

And I was looking it up, seems there's a spider called the cellar spider that's ALSO called the daddy long legs.

[Hasina]

Lady Kasey, on 27 September 2012 - 07:45 PM, said:

Well call me a moron because that's what I was always told.

I mean no offense, I'm sorry! I do understand that's what people are told, especially as children. My parents told me that as well.

[sarah_444]

Here the Harvestman spiders (I never actually knew the correct name for them, so thanks!) are known as Daddy Long Legs and the Crane Flies are usually nicknamed Mosquito Hawks or "those big giant mosquito looking things". lol

Edited by sarah_444, 27 September 2012 - 07:54 PM.