opilionoides

Opilionoides is a genus of harvestmen, also known as opiliones or daddy longlegs, belonging to the family Trogulidae. Harvestmen are arachnids, but they are not spiders. They are characterized by their two-segmented body and the absence of venom glands. The genus Opilionoides is distinguished by specific morphological features of its gnathocoxae, pedipalps, and carapace. These features are important for taxonomic classification within the order Opiliones.

Species within the Opilionoides genus are typically found in the Mediterranean region, inhabiting damp and shaded environments such as leaf litter, under rocks, and in caves. They are detritivores, feeding on decaying organic matter, and are also known to prey on small invertebrates. Their life cycle and reproductive strategies are typical of other harvestmen, involving egg-laying and several nymphal instars before reaching adulthood. The exact number of species currently recognized within Opilionoides can vary as taxonomic research progresses and new species are described or existing ones are reclassified.