The Differences Between Harvestmen and Spiders

Harvestmen are a group of arachnids that are closely related to spiders, but do not have the same characteristics as spiders. They belong to the order Opiliones, and there are over 6,000 species of harvestmen found around the world.

Here are some key differences between harvestmen and spiders:

1. Body structure: Harvestmen have a more elongated body shape than spiders, with a longer abdomen and shorter legs. They also do not have a cephalothorax (the front part of the body that includes the head and thorax) like spiders do.
2. Eyes: Harvestmen have much smaller eyes than spiders, and they do not have the same ability to see in multiple directions.
3. Legs: Harvestmen have fewer legs than spiders, with most species having four pairs of legs instead of eight.
4. Web-spinning: Unlike spiders, harvestmen do not spin webs to catch prey. Instead, they use their long, slender legs to crawl and search for food.
5. Reproduction: Harvestmen reproduce differently than spiders as well. Female harvestmen lay eggs in a protective sac, while male spiders produce sperm that is deposited on the female's body.
6. Diet: Harvestmen are primarily carnivorous, feeding on small insects and other arachnids, while spiders are more generalist predators that will eat a wide variety of prey.

Overall, while harvestmen share some similarities with spiders, they are a distinct group of arachnids with their own unique characteristics.