Invaded by Daddy long legs

heatherw_01

Debt_Free_Chick wrote:

Try to bear in mind that they are harmless and that the spiders will eat them. I mean ... they won't kill you, will they

Yes I saw a spider eating one in my bathroom.

Lovely sight... my 2 phobias together

queensway_boy

tell me about it-i've had families of them takin it in turns attacking me for days while i'm on the computer:(

Dee123_2

I evicted the same one from my lounge five times the other night but he seemed to be set on a set route of being evicted out the front door and coming straight back in the upstairs bathroom window and down the stairs again.

I know it was the same one cos he had a clump of fibres stuck to one of his legs.

Must be the year for them.

Dee

Jay-Jay_4

Glad it isn't just me!


At the moment I have two newspapers on the floor, underneath each is a dead DLL waiting to be removed by my husband when he gets in from work.

bluenose1

My kids can't stop laughing at me when I see one. They are gross and I am terrified. I know its irrational but I jump about a foot in the air and run for it, shutting all doors after me.

I don't like killing insects and am too frightened of daddy long legs to even be in the same room.

I was only thinking the other day I hadn't seen any and now I've seen two in two days.

Love
Anne

PS I am sure we had a mosquito in our bedroom the other night. It sounded exactly like one. The noise is unbearable. Surely its not getting that hot!!!!!!!!!!!!

shelly

Oh my lord!! I thought it was just our house being invaded. Went to bed the other nite and hubby had window open and lamp on. I had to kill 5 before I could get into bed. I can't stand them.....they come at me all wings and spindly legs :eek: Have told hubby now to keep window shut and put the fan on if he's too warm.

Was going to ask a question but decided to look it up myself. Whilst searching for my answer I found out that they aren't daddy long legs after all,thats just a name we gave them. They are really crane flys.....a daddy long legs is actually a spider.

Whatever they are I still don't like them

dealseeker

A Little education from the net
... Yep there are loads at the moment so might as well know a bit about them ...

Tipulidae oleracea
(Crane Fly or Daddy Longlegs)

Crane flies are among the animals which cause the most panic in a bedroom, apart from probably spiders, that is. Attracted by the light, they fly in the window and start to flap against lampshades of the main light or the bedside light...apart from this they do no harm at all. Craneflies are merely large flies. They do not feed as adults, nor do they bite or sting. The female lays eggs in the ground, where the larvae feed on vegetation, sometimes causing damage by gnawing at the roots of plants.

Crane fly larvae may also appear in thatch. They normally live in damp earth, and so it is only in old, damp, mossy thatched roofs that they can thrive. They themselves do little damage in a roof that has already suffered, but it becomes more serious if rooks or other birds discover this source of food and start to pull at the thatch in order to reach the larvae.

These rather leggy flies, sometimes referred to as Daddy Longlegs, have a tendency for the legs to break off when handled. Many crane flies are only mosquito-sized, but all can be recognised by the V shaped suture on the thorax together with a lack of ocelli. Larger species generally rest with the wings extended: smaller species generally fold their wings flat over the body and often bob up and down on their legs when at rest, hence their alternative name of "bobbing gnats". The female abdomen is pointed for laying eggs into the ground or other materials. Some females are wingless and can be seen on house walls in late autumn. Adults may lap nectar and other fluids but do not feed much. Larvae live mainly as scavengers in the soil or decaying matter, often under water. The larvae are often referred to as "leatherjackets".

Usually, unless in extremely large numbers, crane flies do not require professional treatment .... ie a newspaper will do!

nearlyrich

Wow they are everywhere, though it was just me!

Anya

Eugh...they give me the creeps! We have had loads in the last week. I keep finding them stuck to my windows and doors waiting for their chance to get in. My problem is that the one thing I hate more than daddy long legs is ... dead daddy long legs. Its they way they get all mangled eugh. I just have to hide in a safe room 'til my husband gets home from work. Can't talk about it anymore I'm too disturbed!

Sheel

They're in Leeds too , just splatted one in the kitchen :rolleyes:

I've been meaning to send for one of THESE , think i'll go ahead and order one now