Bug Identifier
Cellar spider (likely long-bodied cellar spider)
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.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.