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Agelenidae—Funnel Weavers Amaurobiidae—Hackledmesh Weavers Araneidae—Orbweavers Clubionidae—Sac Spiders Dysderidae—Dysderid Spiders Lycosidae—Wolf Spiders Miturgidae—Prowling Spiders Pisauridae—Nursery Web Spiders Pholcidae—Cellar or Daddylonglegs Spiders Salticidae—Jumping Spiders Sicariidae—Sixeyed Sicariid Spiders Theridiidae—Cobweb Weavers Photographs courtesy of Steven Jacobs. Prepared by Steven Jacobs, |
The longbodied cellar spider is the most common of the Pholcidae in the United States. It has extremely long legs and is found in many types of buildings throughout the year. Although these spiders can develop large populations in protected locations, they are not known to be in any way harmful. This spider is commonly found in cellars, warehouses, garages, caves, and other dark, quiet, protected spots. Description The females are from 7 to 8 millimeters and the males 6 millimeters in length. The carapace is very wide. The abdomen is about three times as long as it is wide and cylindrical in shape. The eyes are arranged in two triads of larger, light-colored eyes on the top of the cephalothorax and a pair of dark, small eyes on the front. The color of the carapace and abdomen is a pale tan or yellow with a gray mark in the center of the carapace. The forelegs of the adult female are about 50 millimeters in length. The webs are an irregular mesh of threads. Life History/Behavior Both male and female spiders can be found in heated structures anytime of the year. It takes approximately one year for the spiders to mature and they can live for at least another two. The eggs, which are about 1 millimeter in diameter, are deposited in clusters of 25 to 60 and wrapped in a thin layer of silk. The sac is held by the female in her chelicerae as she hangs inverted in her web. An unusual behavior is that the spiders will rapidly vibrate in a circular fashion in the web if threatened, making it difficult to see them. Medical Importance These spiders are not known to bite people and are not a medically important species.
Authored by: Steve Jacobs, Sr. Extension Associate March
2002 ©
The Pennsylvania State University 2006 Return to Entomological Notes Listing
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Longbodied Cellar Spider