
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.
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.