A to Z of Pests

Harvestman Spider

Phalangium Opilio

Appearance

• Adult – 3.5–9mm body. The upper body surface has light grey/brown pattern, the lower surface is typically cream.

Lifecycle

• The females lay eggs in moist soil.
• The eggs survive through winter and hatch in the spring.
• Only one batch of eggs is laid each year.

Habits

• They live in fields and forests and climb tree trunks or look for food on the ground.
• They feed on many soft bodied arthropods, including aphids, caterpillars, beetle larvae, and small slugs.