Cellar Spider, Daddy Long-Legs Spider, Skull Spider
Pholcus phalangioides (likely)
Pholcidae (Cellar Spiders), Order Araneae. Characterized by extremely long, thin legs and hanging inverted in webs.
Physical Description
Small, elongate-oval cephalothorax and a long, cylindrical abdomen that is semi-translucent. The body appears delicate and fragile with a pale, almost ghostly texture.
Size Estimate
Body length 7-9mm; leg span up to 50mm (approx. 2 inches). Based on image scale, this appears to be a juvenile or sub-adult.
Coloration & Markings
Pale tan, cream, or grayish-yellow. Often features a dark 'skull-shaped' mark on the cephalothorax and faint, darker patches on the long abdomen.
Web Type
Irregular, messy tangle web (cobweb). Typically built in corners, ceilings, and undisturbed dark areas like cellars or closets.
Eye Arrangement
Usually eight eyes arranged in two lateral groups of three and one central pair of two. They are often clustered on a small tubercle.
Leg Characteristics
Extremely long, thin, and spindly legs. They lack heavy spines but have flexible 'tarsi' (feet) and often appear banded at the joints.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Weak neurotoxic venom designed for small invertebrates. Highly effective on insects but very low potency relative to humans.
Medical Significance
Harmless and not medically significant. Their fangs are generally too small to penetrate human skin, and bites result in only minor, short-lived redness if any.
Safety Recommendations
No action is usually needed. If desired, they can be safely relocated using a cup and paper. They do not pose a risk to pets or children.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Cosmopolitan distribution; found globally. Heavily associated with human dwellings, specifically basements, garages, and high corners of rooms.
Behavior & Temperament
Very docile and non-aggressive. When threatened, they exhibit a 'whirling' behavior, vibrating rapidly in their web to become a blur to predators.
Diet & Prey
Generalist predators eating small insects, but famously known to hunt other spiders, including much larger species like Black Widows and House Spiders.
Seasonal Activity
Year-round in climate-controlled indoor environments, though sightings may increase in autumn as they move toward heat sources.
Description
The Cellar Spider is a ubiquitous indoor companion known for its impossibly long legs and messy webs. While often feared due to myths, it is an efficient predator of domestic pests.
Key Features
Extremely long thin legs, cylindrical abdomen, and the habit of hanging upside down in a messy web in building corners.
Similar Species
Often confused with Harvestmen (Opiliones) which have one body segment, or Crane Flies (Tipulidae) which are flying insects with six legs.
Life Cycle
Females carry their egg sacs in their chelicerae (mouthparts) until hatching. Spiderlings stay near the mother for a short time before dispersing. Can live up to 2-3 years.
Ecological Importance
Primary domestic pest controller. They naturally reduce populations of flies, mosquitoes, and more dangerous household spiders.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated (IUCN); very common and stable worldwide due to adaptation to human structures.
Interesting Facts
An urban legend claims they are the most poisonous spiders but their fangs are too short; this is false. They are actually top-tier 'spider hunters'.
Photography Tips
Due to their thin legs, use a dark background and macro mode. Focus on the cephalothorax to capture the eye arrangement and 'skull' marking.
Identified: 2026-06-22T16:25:00.176853