Cellar Spider (or 'Daddy Long-Legs' in some regions, though this term can also refer to harvestmen)

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in dark, damp, undisturbed areas of human dwellings such as cellars, basements, attics, sheds, and closets. They can also be found outdoors in sheltered locations.

Diet & Feeding

Mainly feeds on other spiders (including venomous ones like hobo spiders and black widows), insects (like mosquitoes, flies, moths), and other small invertebrates. They catch prey in their irregular, messy webs.

Behavior Patterns

Cellar spiders build loose, irregular webs in corners and sheltered spots. When disturbed, they often vibrate rapidly in their web, making themselves blurry and difficult for predators to catch. They are known for their ability to prey on other spiders, even those larger and more venomous than themselves. They are not aggressive towards humans.

Risks & Benefits

Generally considered beneficial as they prey on other insects and spiders that humans might consider pests. They are not harmful to humans; their fangs are very small, and their venom, if any, is not considered medically significant to humans, despite urban legends suggesting otherwise.

Identified on: 9/27/2025