The colloquial name daddy-long-legs is often used to refer to Pholcidae, harvestmen, and crane flies. This name originates in Faroese as "lokki-grindalokki-grindalokkur" which literally translates to "daddy-long-legs". It is likely a kenning and more accurately translates to "grandfather of web spinners" as it refers to the Nordic god Loki who was associated with spiders in folklore.
this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2025
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Huh, who uses that term for "crane flies"? We (US) use it for Pholcidae, and I think I've heard harvestmen called that on Australia or something, but never crane flies.
The UK uses it for crane flies.
Definitely depends on the region, cause daddy long legs are harvestmen (northeast US) e.g.
I think Ireland does. I occasionally hear it here in the UK, though it typically means harvestmen here
I always heard it used for both and it confused me that they were two different things.
I suppose it could depend on the region? We've got a very dense patchwork of dialects and they'll naturally bleed into one another a fair bit
We use skeeter bomber/eater for crane flies, depending on how recently they've eaten
Spiders are a lil freaky
Not a spider, but still pretty freaky.
cellar spiders aren't spiders?
What's being talked about in this thread are not cellar spiders. But a different species that is also referred to as Daddy Long legs called a harvestman. Which is an arachnid but not a spider.
harvestmen, cellar spiders, and crane flies are each called "daddy long legs" depending on your region. here it's cellar spiders. crane flies are mosquito eaters and we don't have harvestmen.
We always called them granddaddy long legs.
I see your granddaddy long legs and raise you a great granddaddy long legs.
(I've never heard them called "great granddaddy long legs", just "granddaddy long legs" and "daddy long legs". But I think I'll start calling them "great granddaddy long legs" now.)
I think that's an excellent swear as well.
You probably don’t need the details but I assure you it’s definitely sexual.
Don't want people to confuse the insect with the movie.
I think its a reference to the Ettercap nursery rhyme but idk
What rhyme? Only thing I can think that you mean is some things about "attercop" (old word for spider) that Tolkien writes.