Harvestmen are common sights among leaf litter in forests. These harmless creatures are not technically spiders, though they share attributes like eight legs. Harvestmen have tiny mouths and do not bite people. They lack stingers and are relatively slow walkers. The spindly legs are long and bent, with the second pair longer than the other six. This pair is able to sense the environment. They swing these two legs in front of themselves, sweeping back and forth, tapping the surface, and gathering information. Harvestmen can afford to lose a leg or part of one in an effort to distract or abate a predator, but their legs do not grow back. They also break easily with careless handling.
Many times, a Harvestman is seen with tiny red bumps on its oval body. These are mites and they are parasitic to the Harvestman. There are a variety of species of Harvestmen and they are found all over North America. Venture into any wooded area or forest and one is likely to be crossing a trail or hanging out on the leaves of low-growing plants.
General Characteristics Capability, Shape, Texture/Pattern, Benefits, Dangers
* MAP NOTES: The territorial heat map above showcases (in red) the states and territories of North America where the Harvestman may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data is useful when attempting to see concentrations of particular species across the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some insects are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America. States/Territories shown above are a general indicator of areas inhabited by the Harvestman. Insects generally go where they please, typically driven by diet, environmental changes, and / or mating habits.
Colors: brown; black; orange 
