
Community identification
Cellar spider (likely long-bodied cellar spider)
Pholcus phalangioides
- Order & Family
- Araneae, Pholcidae
- Size
- Body about 6–10 mm long; leg span commonly 40–50 mm.
Natural Habitat
Dark, sheltered places such as basements, garages, crawl spaces, ceilings, and undisturbed corners indoors; widespread worldwide.
Diet & Feeding
Predatory, feeding on flies, mosquitoes, moths, other spiders, and small arthropods captured in its irregular web.
Behavior Patterns
Builds loose, tangled webs and vibrates rapidly when disturbed, making it difficult for predators to target. Females carry egg sacs in their jaws and may produce several broods.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to people and not medically significant. Beneficial as a household predator of nuisance insects and other spiders.