Cellar spiders are often found in dark, secluded places like basements, crawl spaces, and cellars. These long-legged, delicate creatures may cause some people to wonder if they create webs like other spider species.
Indeed, cellar spiders do spin webs, which tend to be untidy and can sometimes become quite extensive. These webs serve as their habitat, and they also play a role in capturing prey. It’s interesting to note that when cellar spiders are disturbed, they are known to bounce within their webs as a peculiar defense mechanism.
Cellar Spider Basics
Species and Range
Cellar spiders belong to the family Pholcidae, which includes two common species – the long-bodied cellar spider (Pholcus phalangioides) and the short-bodied cellar spider. They are found across North America, thriving in dark, secluded places like cellars and basements.
Spider Identification
Long-bodied Cellar Spider:
- Female body length: 1/4-5/16 inch
- Leg length: Up to 2 inches
- Color: Pale gray to light tan
Short-bodied Cellar Spider:
- Female body length: 1/16 inch
- Leg length: 5/16 inch
- Color: Pale gray to light tan
Both species have long, delicate legs and are known for their “vibrating” behavior when alarmed, turning them into a blur in their webs.
Lifespan
Female long-bodied cellar spiders can produce about three egg sacs in their lifetime, each containing around 13-60 eggs. The exact lifespan of cellar spiders is not clear, but they can survive for several months to a year.
Conservation Status
Cellar spiders are common spiders and not considered endangered or threatened. Their presence is usually harmless, and they can even help control other pest populations by capturing and consuming small insects.
| Long-bodied Cellar Spider | Short-bodied Cellar Spider | |
|---|---|---|
| Body length | 1/4-5/16 inch | 1/16 inch |
| Leg length | Up to 2 inches | 5/16 inch |
| Color | Pale gray to light tan | Pale gray to light tan |
- Long-legged and delicate
- Common in North America
- Vibrates when alarmed
- Harmless and not endangered
Webs and Habitats
Web Structure and Maintenance
Cellar spiders create webs in calm, undisturbed places and usually live in or near their webs. These webs have a chaotic structure, and when disturbed, cellar spiders bounce rapidly to turn themselves into a blur, making it difficult for predators to locate them.
Webs need maintenance, so they don’t collect too much dirt and dust over time, which can make them unsightly. Regular vacuuming of the webs and spiders is recommended.
Preferred Locations
Cellar spiders prefer locations with:
- High humidity
- Low ventilation
- Corners of rooms
- Indoor or outdoor shelters
Examples of such locations include basements, caves, sheds, and garages. You can often find them in the corners of rooms, close to the ceiling.
To minimize cellar spider populations, consider:
- Minimizing nesting habitats
- Sealing exterior cracks and crevices
- Regularly vacuuming webs
Here’s a comparison table of their preferred locations:
| Web Location | Humidity | Ventilation | Indoors or Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basement | High | Low | Indoors |
| Cave | High | Low | Outdoors |
| Shed | High | Low | Outdoors |
| Garage | High | Low | Indoors |
| Corners of rooms | High | Low | Indoors |
Biology and Behavior
Anatomy and Appearance
Cellar spiders belong to the Pholcidae family and are characterized by their long, thin legs and small bodies. They come in various shades of gray, tan, or whitish color, which helps them blend into their surroundings. Their body length ranges from 1/16 inch for short-bodied cellar spiders to 1/4-5/16 inch for long-bodied cellar spiders, with legs extending up to 2 inches in the latter. A distinctive feature of cellar spiders is their flexible tarsi (“feet”), which adds to their wispy appearance1.
Diet and Prey
Cellar spiders primarily feed on insects, including mosquitoes, flies, and moths2. They rely on their webs to catch prey, waiting patiently in or near the web for insects to get trapped. Some cellar spider species even demonstrate a unique hunting technique, where they enter the webs of other spiders, mimic the vibrations of trapped insects, and devour the unsuspecting host spider when it approaches3.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
- Egg sacs: Female long-bodied cellar spiders produce about three egg sacs over their lifetime4.
- Number of eggs: Each egg sac contains 13-60 eggs4.
- Spiderlings: After hatching, the spiderlings remain in the mother’s web for a short time before venturing out on their own5.
When alarmed, cellar spiders exhibit a remarkable behavioral trait known as vibrating or bouncing rapidly in their webs, which makes them appear blurred and camouflaged1. This movement helps them avoid predators and other dangers6.
Despite the myth that cellar spiders, also known as daddy long-legs spiders, are venomous, they pose no harm to humans, and their venom is not dangerous7. In fact, they are beneficial as they help control insect populations in homes and buildings8.
Cellar Spider Misconceptions
Daddy Longlegs Confusion
Cellar spiders are often confused with daddy longlegs, which actually refers to two different groups of arachnids:
- Harvestmen: These are not even technically spiders, as they belong to a separate order called Opiliones.
- Craneflies: Adult craneflies are insects, not spiders, and have wings.
The key differences between cellar spiders and these other arachnids include:
| Feature | Cellar Spiders | Harvestmen | Craneflies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body segments | 2 | 1 | 3 (insect) |
| Legs | 8 (spindly) | 8 | 6 (insect) |
| Wings | None | None | 2 pairs |
Vibrating Spiders
Another interesting and unique characteristic of cellar spiders is their habit of vibrating or bouncing rapidly in their webs when alarmed. This movement:
- Turns them into a blur
- May help deter predators by confusing them
Venom
Many people falsely assume that cellar spiders are venomous. In reality:
- They do possess fangs and venom, but it is not dangerous to humans
- They primarily use their venom to subdue small insects for consumption
In summary, cellar spiders are not daddy longlegs or harvestmen. They’re unique creatures that display interesting behaviors, such as vibrating, and possess venom that is harmless to humans.
Managing Cellar Spiders
Prevention and Control Measures
Cellar spiders are not known to be harmful, but they can cause unsightly webs that gather dust and dirt over time. To prevent and manage their presence in your home, follow these steps:
- Sanitation: Keep your home and basement clean and clutter-free.
- Crevices: Seal any gaps and crevices around your home using caulk or weatherstripping.
- Lighting: Use yellow lights as they are less attractive to spiders and other insects.
- Dehumidifiers: Maintain low humidity levels in your home using a dehumidifier.
Safe Removal Methods
If you discover cellar spiders in your home, here are some ways to safely remove them:
- Vacuum: Use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to remove the spiders and their webs.
- Broom: Gently remove the spiders and webs using a broom, taking care not to harm the spider.
For stubborn infestations, consider using insecticides or contacting a professional pest control service. Always follow the directions on insecticide labels and consult conservation status guidelines to ensure safe and responsible usage.
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum | Easy, quick, non-toxic | May harm the spider |
| Broom | Non-toxic, gentle on spiders | Time-consuming |
| Insecticides | Effective | Toxic, may harm other species |
| Pest Control | Professional help | Costly |
Remember that cellar spiders are generally beneficial creatures that help control other pests in your home, such as flies. So if their presence is not causing any issues, consider letting them coexist with you in a harmonious environment.
Cellar Spiders and Ecosystem
Predators and Threats
Cellar spiders are small arachnids with a range across the United States. They usually inhabit dark, damp spaces like rock piles and ceilings. These spiders face various predators, such as the orb weaver spider. One defense mechanism they have is to vibrate rapidly in their webs, turning them into a blur and making it difficult for predators to capture them.
- Range: United States
- Habitat: Rock piles, ceilings
- Predators: Orb weaver spider
- Defense mechanism: Web vibrations
Benefits to Humans and the Environment
Cellar spiders are crucial components of the ecosystem. For example, they help control insect populations by feeding on them. Their webs are not the typical concentric circles but still effectively trap prey. Humans benefit from cellar spiders because they help to reduce pests in homes and gardens.
- Environmental role: Controls insect populations
- Web type: Non-concentric circles
- Human benefits: Pest reduction
Species
Various species of cellar spiders exist. The long-bodied cellar spider, for instance, is about 1/4-5/16 inch long with legs extending another 2 inches. In comparison, the short-bodied cellar spider has a 1/16 inch long body with legs extending about 5/16 inch1. Both species reproduce by the female storing sperm and producing egg sacs, with the long-bodied species producing 13-60 eggs each1.
Comparison of Cellar Spider Species:
| Species | Body Length | Leg Length | Eggs per Sac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-bodied | 1/4-5/16 inch | 2 inches | 13-601 |
| Short-bodied | 1/16 inch | 5/16 inch | N/A |
Footnotes
- https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/cellar-spiders ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5
- https://extension.umn.edu/insect-relatives/spiders ↩
- https://education.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/cellar-spiders ↩
- https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/cellar-spiders/ ↩ ↩2
- https://extension.psu.edu/longbodied-cellar-spider ↩
- https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/cellar-spiders ↩
- https://extension.psu.edu/longbodied-cellar-spider ↩
- https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/cellar-spiders/ ↩
