Inside Harvestmen: Secrets and Survival

I sat down with Dr. Ignacio Escalante Meza from the University of Illinois at Chicago to unpack some of the biggest myths about “daddy longlegs” and explore the fascinating biology behind them.

We talked about why harvestmen aren’t actually spiders, how they survive by dropping their own legs, and the chemistry behind their defense systems.

Dr. Escalante also shared how their movements inspire robotics research and what future scientists can learn from studying the natural world up close.

If you’re a student, researcher, or just curious about the science of adaptation, this conversation is for you. insightful, grounded, and full of discovery.

Watch the full episode below.