google-play-not-available-title

google-play-not-available-text

Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Opiliones
Phalangiidae
Mitopus
Mitopus morio

Saddleback Harvestman

Mitopus morio
Local Pest Control
Mitopus morio
Mobile App
An insect specialist
right in your pocket
Download from AppStoreDownload from GooglePlayDownload from AppStore
Download from AppStore

Summary

Mitopus morio is a species of harvestman belonging to the family Phalangiidae.

Saddleback Harvestman

Mitopus morio
Local Pest Control

Tags

harmless

Scientific classification

People often ask

What does saddleback harvestman eat?

Distribution

This species occurs in Europe, North Africa, Asia and in North America.

Description

Mitopus morio can reach a body length of about 4 - 6 mm in males, of about 4 - 8.5 mm in females. However the body size is quite variable. The body is ovate, slightly narrower in the male. The head shows various timy bumps. The eyes are small and narrow, longer than wider, with a varying number of small spikes around the eyebrow. Also color is rather variable, but males are usually brown-colored, where as females are darker. A dark irregular saddle-like area is always present on the back, sometimes with narrow white edges and a longitudinal pinkish stripe in the centre. The legs varies from yellowish-brown to dark brown and are thin and long. The length of the longest of the second pair of legs is 30-40 mm. Males have sharp, forward-pointing tooth under first segment of chelicera. This species is rather similar and may be confused with the females of Phalangium opilio.

Description

Biology

Adults can be found from the middle of May until the middle of November, depending on the location. Eggs hatch at the end of March. These harvestmen feed on small insects and other small arthropods. Mitopus morio has been observed to walk using its first, third, and fourth sets of legs, using the unusually long second pair of legs to feel in front of it and probe its environment.

Bibliography

- Cawley, M.. 2002, A review of the Irish harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones), Bulletin Irish biogeographical Society, 26: 106-137 - Edgar, A. L., 1990. Opiliones (Phalangida). Pp. 529-581 in: D. L. Dindal, ed., Soil Biology Guide. John Wiley & Sons, New York, : i-xx, 1–1349. - Sankey, J.H.P & Savory, T.H. 1974, British Harvestmen. Arachnida : Opiliones, Synopses of the British Fauna, 4: 1-76