Family PHOLCIDAE C.L. Koch, 1851
Compiler and date details
Valerie Todd Davies (including the Lycosidae by R.J. McKay), Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Introduction
Haplogyne, 3-clawed spiders with very long thin legs, hence the common name 'daddy long legs'. Chelicerae fused at base: median lamella ends distally with membranous tooth-like structure. Eight or six eyes. When present, AME small; rest of eyes in two triads. Male palp complex with elaborate procursus (=paracymbium). Colulus present. One trichbothrium on metatarsi, none on tarsi. Female palp without a claw. Spiders hang from a lightly woven tangle web that often has an irregular horizontal sheet within it. The small fangs are able to bite man but bites from both Pholcus phalangioides and Artema atlanta (QM records) have been of no consequence; equally, studies on the venom have indicated no components which are of concern to man.
Diagnosis
The Pholcidae differ from all other haplogyne spiders by their extremely elongate and slender legs.