A Mating Pair of Harvestmen

Mating Harvestman UPCLOSE!

This is even later season love- for the Harvestmen- peering into the world with two eyes on a turret, also called “Daddy-Long-Leg” spiders (but not true “spiders).  We talked about them earlier, but also showing how active they remain late in the season in the NE U.S.  This arachnid group of Opiliones (>6400 species strong world wide) are fascinating when you give them time.  See our last feature too, which about these great creatures.  Last night I was kinda shocked at 52 degrees to find these too copulating- amongst a bevy of moths.  They have direct transfer of sperm, a bit different then the true spiders.  I think- but am not sure- that these in this post are a different species then the ones imaged in the last post.  Male has more of a pattern then the female here.  And, this variety which is out now, appear to have shorter legs all around.  And not just because of a regrown leg- what I mean is- if they lose a leg (autotomy) later they can regrow one as a new one progressively arises from each molt.  Don’t know for sure.  But most I see now- look different and have shorter legs.  They appeared about mid-October.  They are also not as fast- regardless of the lower temps now.  So enjoy these new images.  The drive to reproduce, pass on genetics, have progeny is so strong, cold crisp fall air doesn’t prevent these octo-peded wonders from doing the wild thing on my garage door.  Its a slow graceful type of embrace in my opinion actually.  Paired, weird, and often feared, the spiders life should also be spared, for in their actions they do appear, to be decisive and arachno-aware.  NG.