Bug Identifier
Cellar spider (daddy longlegs spider)
Community identification

Cellar spider (daddy longlegs spider)

Pholcus phalangioides

Order & Family
Araneae, Pholcidae
Size
Adult body length is about 6–9 mm, with a leg span commonly reaching 4–6 cm.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Common indoors in dark, undisturbed areas such as basements, garages, closets, and ceiling corners; also found in sheltered outdoor structures.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

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

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to people and not considered medically significant. It benefits households by consuming nuisance insects and occasionally other spiders.