Community identification
Cellar spider (daddy longlegs spider)
Pholcus phalangioides
- Order & Family
- Araneae; Pholcidae
- Size
- Body length is about 6–9 mm; legs commonly span 40–60 mm.
Natural Habitat
Common indoors in cellars, basements, garages, corners, and ceilings; also found in sheltered outdoor spaces.
Diet & Feeding
Predatory, feeding on flies, mosquitoes, mites, and other small arthropods; it may also capture and eat other spiders.
Behavior Patterns
Builds loose, irregular, three-dimensional webs and vibrates rapidly when disturbed, making it difficult to see. Females carry egg sacs in their chelicerae, and several generations may occur annually indoors.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to people and not medically significant; its bite is rare and mild. It benefits homes by consuming nuisance insects and other spiders.