This is ridiculous and completely false, they have mild venom that takes quite a bit to even immobilize their small insect prey. So, if you notice expansive areas of flimsy or haphazard webbing, you sure have an infestation at your home. Unlike other spider species, cellar spiders do not take their old webs down instead, they expand on their existing webs. One myth that surrounds these spiders is the fact that they have the most toxic venom of any spider but cannot bite because they are too small. One of the most visible signs of infestation caused by cellar spiders is the presence of cobwebs.

Prey is heavily wrapped in a veil of very fine silk, turning it whitish in color (see inset picture). Araneus cingulatus (Red-spotted Orb-weaver) 5 pictures. Amaurobius ferox (Black Lace-Weaver) 125 pictures. I have even seen a deer tick captured by one of these spiders. Occasionally, spiders can be found well outside of their known range due to being intentionally or accidentally transported by humans in cars, luggage, and other belongings. These spiders capture large amounts of household pests such as mosquitoes, flies, larder chafers, drugstore beetles, meal moths, ants, Asian ladybugs and other spiders (ones that wander on the floors). They are extremely beneficial to have in your home. Outdoors around houses and in crevices or caves.ĭiet: Insects such as flies, beetles, moths, centipedes, ants, mosquitoes and other spiders. It’s also a sickly gray, tan, or brown color with legs that are much longer than its body. For one thing, this spider’s body is translucent. This spider is known for its creepy looks and behavior. Habitat: Houses, barns, sheds, basements, under porches, outbuildings, under tables, in cabinets and corners, and under furniture. The long-bodied cellar spider is another arachnid that you’ll find in your basement. Cellar spiders acquired their name from their favoured habitat - the cellar. This spider is most recognizable by its 8 very thin, long legs.

The most well-known is the long-bodied cellar spider, also commonly known as ‘Daddy Long-legs’. Spiderlings stay in the web with the mother until their first shedding. There are around 20 species of cellar spiders (Pholcus phalangioides) living in Canada and the U.S. It is built in dark corners and crevices.Įggs: 17-42, held in a very fine sac of silk, held by the female in her web. Web: Irregular tangle of web strands, not very strong. Mistakenly called a daddy-long legs, a distant relative of all spiders. Cellar spiders exhibit a few behaviors that frighten people. This spider is typically brown, tan, or grayish brown, and it possesses a somewhat translucent body with thin legs. Somewhat translucent looking, females larger than males and can have distended abdomens from eggs within. The long-bodied cellar spider is frequently seen in basements, garages, and other dark, out-of-the-way places where it will be left alone. Description: Very long legged spider with small narrow body.

Long bodied cellar spider