
Community identification
Cellar spider (daddy longlegs)
Pholcus phalangioides
- Order & Family
- Araneae, family Pholcidae
- Size
- Adult body length is about 6–10 mm, with a leg span commonly reaching 40–50 mm.
Natural Habitat
Common indoors in quiet, dim, humid areas such as basements, cellars, garages, and corners of rooms; also found in sheds and caves.
Diet & Feeding
A predator of small insects, mites, and other spiders, including prey caught in its irregular, tangled web.
Behavior Patterns
Builds loose cobwebs and often vibrates rapidly when disturbed, making its body difficult to see. Females carry egg clusters in their jaws until spiderlings hatch.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to people and not medically significant; it can reduce nuisance insects and other household spiders. Its webs are chiefly a cosmetic nuisance.