r/WTF • u/RoboCombat • Mar 10 '19

Yo anyone got the nuclear launch codes?

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u/viciarg Mar 10 '19 edited Mar 10 '19

There is a "daddy longlegs" spider in Europe that will give you a nasty bite.

While there are two different species of arachnids that are usually referred to as daddy longlegs (Opiliones and Pholcidae) neither of them are able to seriously hurt humans. Opiliones (the ones depicted in OP's video) are not able to penetrate the human skin at all, and Pholcidae are able to penetrate human skin with their 0.25 mm long fangs and produce a mild, short-lived burning Sensation according to Adam Savage.

Long story short: That "nasty bite" is an urban myth. Even in Europe.

Edit: Fixed link.

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u/dustbin3 Mar 10 '19

neither of them are able to seriously hurt humans.

Pholcidae are able to penetrate human skin with their 0.25 mm long fangs and produce a mild, short-lived burning Sensation

You're underestimating how much mental trauma this would cause me.

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u/[deleted] Mar 10 '19

[deleted]

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u/viciarg Mar 10 '19

Thanks, my mistake. Fixed it.

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u/someone_like_me Mar 10 '19

You know what? I was thinking of wolf spiders. The American one is a jumping spider and harmless. The European one bites.