Long-bodied Cellar Spider, Daddy Long-legs Spider, Skull Spider
Pholcus phalangioides
Pholcidae (Cellar Spiders), Order Araneae. Characterized by extremely long, thin legs and hanging inverted in webs.
Physical Description
A very small, delicate spider with a cylindrical or peanut-shaped abdomen and a small, somewhat flat cephalothorax. The body appears translucent and fragile.
Size Estimate
Body length: 7-9 mm; Leg span: up to 50 mm. The specimen in the image appears to be an adult or sub-adult based on body proportions.
Coloration & Markings
Pale tan, grey, or yellowish-brown. A darker, blurry grey mark on the cephalothorax often resembles a skull (giving it the 'Skull Spider' name). The abdomen is usually monochromatic and translucent.
Web Type
Tangle web or cobweb. It is loose, irregular, and non-sticky. Usually placed in corners of ceilings, basements, or dark crevices.
Eye Arrangement
Eight eyes total, arranged in three groups: a pair of small anterior median eyes and two lateral triads of three larger eyes each.
Leg Characteristics
Extremely long, thin, and hair-like. They are flexible and lack obvious spines. The legs often appear darker at the joints.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Weakly cytotoxic but extremely low potency. Despite the urban legend that they are the 'most venomous spiders with mouths too small to bite,' their venom is actually very mild.
Medical Significance
Harmless to humans. Their fangs are capable of piercing human skin, but they rarely bite and the reaction is typically a mild, short-lived stinging sensation.
Safety Recommendations
No action is usually required as they are harmless. If their webs become unsightly, they can be easily relocated outside using a cup and paper or removed with a vacuum.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Cosmopolitan distribution; found worldwide. Highly associated with human dwellings, preferring dark, damp, undisturbed areas like cellars, closets, and eaves.
Behavior & Temperament
Sedentary and non-aggressive. When disturbed, it exhibits a 'whirling' behavior, vibrating rapidly in its web to become a blur to predators.
Diet & Prey
Feeds on small insects and other spiders. They are known 'araneophagous' hunters, occasionally leaving their webs to hunt more dangerous spiders like Black Widows.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round in temperature-controlled indoor environments, though numbers may peak in late summer and autumn.
Description
The Long-bodied Cellar Spider is a common household guest known for its impossibly long legs and spindly appearance. While often feared due to their resemblance to more 'creepy' arachnids, they are actually beneficial roommates that act as natural pest control, keeping more bothersome insects and even dangerous spiders at bay.
Key Features
Distinguished by the extremely long, thin legs relative to the tiny body, the peanut-shaped abdomen, and the habit of hanging upside down in messy webs.
Similar Species
Harvestmen (Opiliones) have one body segment and no silk; Steatoda (False Widows) have much thicker bodies and shorter legs.
Life Cycle
Females carry their egg sacs (containing 20-30 eggs) in their chelicerae (mouthparts) for protection. They can live up to 3 years in stable indoor environments.
Ecological Importance
Significant indoor predator. They provide excellent natural pest control for silverfish, flies, and even medically significant spiders like the Brown Recluse.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated (IUCN). Their population is stable and widespread due to their success in human-modified habitats.
Interesting Facts
They are famous for 'whirling' to confuse predators and for their ability to take down much larger spiders through superior reach and silk-wrapping techniques.
Photography Tips
Focus on the cephalothorax to capture the 'skull' marking. Use a macro lens if possible, as their thin legs frequently cause autofocus to struggle with the background.
Identified: 2026-07-19T02:51:02.275540