# Nomenclature of long-legged bugs **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 18, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261 "2016-07-18T22:28:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/1 "2016-07-18T22:28:38Z")
A little survey on regional vocabulary. (A) What do you call this [flying thing](https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=OIP.M46b0f9359ecdc92b339ee80dff02851eH0&pid=15.1&rs=1&c=1&qlt=95&w=174&h=121#inline)? (B) What do you call this [spider](https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Ma54adf8bf92592f3d6e79b7ab93d5533H0&pid=15.1&P=0&w=282&h=188)? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/2 "2016-07-18T22:30:03Z")
My answers: (a) Galleynipper (b) Daddy Long-legs ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/3 "2016-07-18T22:40:29Z")
1. In New York City when I was growing up, those things were commonly called “New Jersey Mosquitoes” (really). It’s actually a Crane Fly. 2. Daddy-Long-Legs. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/4 "2016-07-18T22:43:36Z")
Neither is a “bug.” ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/5 "2016-07-18T22:47:05Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Neither is a “bug.” Pedant. 🙂 And one is not an insect. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/6 "2016-07-18T22:47:40Z")
1. Galleynapper 2. Daddy long-legs ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/7 "2016-07-18T22:50:22Z")
I’ve heard the top one called a mosquito or skeeter eater. Daddy long-legs for the spider. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/8 "2016-07-18T23:03:24Z")
Crane fly and Daddy long-legs, respectively. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/9 "2016-07-18T23:07:09Z")
I brought this up because my wife called the fly a daddy long-legs, when everybody knows that name is reserved for the spider. And I’m glad to have found a fellow gallynapper; I thought I was the only one. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/10 "2016-07-18T23:07:23Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Neither is a “bug.” Yes they are. From Merriam-Webster: > [@](#): > > bug > noun > > 1a : an insect or **other creeping or crawling invertebrate (as a spider or centipede)** > b : any of several insects (as the bedbug or cockroach) commonly considered obnoxious > c : any of an order (Hemiptera and especially its suborder Heteroptera) of insects that have sucking mouthparts, forewings thickened at the base, and incomplete metamorphosis and are often economic pests —called also true bug Bolding mine. The original meaning of “bug” is any small crawling animal. Just because scientists later applied it to one particular group of insects doesn’t make the original sense obsolete. “Bug” is perfectly correct in popular usage. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/11 "2016-07-18T23:13:07Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I brought this up because my wife called the fly a daddy long-legs, when everybody knows that name is reserved for the spider. And I’m glad to have found a fellow gallynapper; I thought I was the only one. Actually, in some places Crane Flies are called Daddy Long-Legs. And there are two kinds of arachnids that are called Daddy Long-Legs; the spider you linked to and [Harvestmen](http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/images/content/daddy_long_leg_spider_harvestman_picture_2.JPG), or opiliones, which have only one body unit. (Spiders have a cephalothorax and abdomen.) ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/12 "2016-07-18T23:26:18Z")
In England: A)Daddy-long-legs (also known as crane fly, but not as common locally ) B) Daddy-long-legs spider. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/13 "2016-07-18T23:31:10Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Actually, in some places Crane Flies are called Daddy Long-Legs. > > And there are two kinds of arachnids that are called Daddy Long-Legs; the spider you linked to and [Harvestmen](http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/images/content/daddy_long_leg_spider_harvestman_picture_2.JPG), or opiliones, which have only one body unit. (Spiders have a cephalothorax and abdomen.) Thanks for the ultra-large pic of that eight-legged horror, **Colibri** ; sweet dreams to you, too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/14 "2016-07-19T00:30:42Z")
1. 'Skeeter eater 2. Daddy long legs ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/15 "2016-07-19T00:52:47Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Thanks for the ultra-large pic of that eight-legged horror, **Colibri** ; sweet dreams to you, too. 😉 When I was a kid this [diorama of a magnified view of the forest floor](http://www.amnh.org/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/biodiversity-and-environment-halls/life-on-the-forest-floor_smalldynamiclead/171760-1-eng-US/life-on-the-forest-floor_smalldynamiclead_dynamic_lead_slide.jpg) at the American Museum of Natural History was one of my favorite exhibits. The Daddy Long-Legs was about two feet tall. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/16 "2016-07-19T00:56:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > When I was a kid this [diorama of a magnified view of the forest floor](http://www.amnh.org/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/biodiversity-and-environment-halls/life-on-the-forest-floor_smalldynamiclead/171760-1-eng-US/life-on-the-forest-floor_smalldynamiclead_dynamic_lead_slide.jpg) at the American Museum of Natural History was one of my favorite exhibits. The Daddy Long-Legs was about two feet tall. Is it true that in one acre of ground, there are 1,000,000 spiders? Pull no punches. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/17 "2016-07-19T02:16:04Z")
mosquito hawk daddy long legs-which is a harvestmen not a spider ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/18 "2016-07-19T02:23:13Z")
1. Mosquito hawk 2. Daddy Long-Legs ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/19 "2016-07-19T02:27:44Z")
A: Mayfly B: Daddy Long Legs ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261/20 "2016-07-19T05:12:28Z")
1. Big mosquito 2. Daddy long legs [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nomenclature-of-long-legged-bugs/760261.md?page=2)