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; legs can span roughly 40–50 mm.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Common indoors in quiet, dim, humid areas such as window corners, basements, garages, and ceilings; it often builds webs near openings.

Diet & Feeding

Predatory, feeding on flies, mosquitoes, moths, mites, and other spiders caught in its loose, irregular web.

Behavior Patterns

It vibrates rapidly in its web when threatened, making its body difficult to see. Females carry egg sacs in their jaws, and adults may persist indoors year-round.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to people and pets; its bite is extremely unlikely and medically insignificant. It benefits homes by consuming nuisance insects and occasionally other spiders.