I have a fear of Craneflies (Daddy-long-legs). What is the name of this stange phobia/fear and how can I cure it?

MyAlias

Insects- Acarophobia or Entomophobia or Insectophobia. http://www.phobialist.com/reverse.html#A- Jun 19 06, 10:06 AM

zbeckabee

Same site says: "Simple or specific phobias have been quite effectively treated with behavior therapy (Marks, 1987). The behaviorists involved in classical conditioning techniques believe that the response of phobic fear is a reflex acquired to non-dangerous stimuli." http://www.phobialist.com/treat.html Jun 19 06, 10:54 AM

talent321

Study them,learn the are not harmfull to you and bennifit you by eating other "vectors"(pathogen transmitting) insects that are harmfull to you such as mesquitoes,flies or other poisen spiders that can harm you. Jun 19 06, 12:48 PM

Baloo55th

Err. the daddy-long-legs referred to are NOT beneficial. They're Crane Flies not the daddy-long-legs of the States. They're what leather-jacket grubs grow up into. They're pests of agriculture and horticulture, unlike the American ones, which are harvestmen (related to spiders quite closely). Our DDLs are spider-like insects (but with only six legs and twitty little wings) and fly about and get into everywhere. They are harmless as adults (to humans) but it's what their eggs grow into before they become adults that is the problem. Personally, I can't stand them either (or close-up moths and butterflies either). I do like spiders, though. Jun 19 06, 5:25 PM

MyAlias

This is the American daddy-long-legs and the real American daddy-long-legs. http://spiders.ucr.edu/daddylonglegs.html Jun 19 06, 8:26 PM

Baloo55th

And here's the crane fly http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipulidae Yuk. Jun 20 06, 12:39 PM

darkpresence

I have been freaked out by those things all my life, it's all those legs. Over the decades, I've managed to desensitise myself enough that I can stay in the same room as one (I used to run out in a cold sweat), but one bounced off my bare skin once before I saw it and I swear it caused a pain not unlike an electric shock under my skin. Also, I once saw one that had a wingspan of at least 18 inches. It was on the other side of a window but tapped against it so loudly I thought it would break through. I almost had a stroke. I have heard that they are actually very poisonous but aren't strong enough to break the skin, is that true? Jun 20 06, 5:23 PM

Baloo55th

Craneflies aren't poisonous. There's confusion here, because daddy longlegs in the States is not the same critter. MinxWolf asked about craneflies, not the American spidery (actually more harvestmen) things. Craneflies just sip nectar - and hang around outside doors and windows waiting for a chance to get in... It's their grubs - the leatherjackets - that are the real pest to growers and gardeners. It's just that the adults, harmless though they are, are decidedly yukky to some people. (People like me and MinxWolf, for example.) Anyway, get one of those zapping bats that look like tennis rackets but have a little button on them. Contact me if you can't find them - I know one source that's available over most of the UK. Jun 21 06, 1:26 PM