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 length about 6–9 mm; leg span commonly 25–50 mm.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Dark, sheltered indoor areas such as corners, basements, garages, and ceilings; also found in sheds and other protected structures.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

Builds loose, tangled webs and often vibrates rapidly when disturbed, becoming difficult to see. Females carry egg sacs in their jaws; young disperse after hatching.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to people and not medically significant; its bite is rare and generally insignificant. Beneficial indoors because it captures nuisance insects and other spiders.