Long-bodied Cellar Spider, Daddy Long-legs Spider, Skull Spider
Pholcus phalangioides
Pholcidae (Cellar Spiders), Order Araneae. Distinguished by very long, thin legs and a tendency to vibrate when disturbed.
Physical Description
Small, elongate body with a distinct cylindrical abdomen and a small, somewhat flattened cephalothorax. The exoskeleton appears translucent and delicate.
Size Estimate
Body length is typically 7-9mm; leg span can reach up to 50mm (approx. 2 inches). Based on the image, this is an adult specimen.
Coloration & Markings
Pale tan, beige, or greyish-yellow with a faint dark mark on the cephalothorax that often resembles a skull (hence the name Skull Spider). The abdomen is usually uniform in color.
Web Type
Messy, irregular tangle webs (cobwebs). They are non-sticky but architectural; they are typically built in corners of ceilings or crawlspaces.
Eye Arrangement
Eight eyes total: two small median eyes and two lateral trios of larger eyes atop the cephalothorax.
Leg Characteristics
Extremely long and spindly, roughly 5 to 6 times the length of the body. They lack thick spines and have a flexible, almost hair-like appearance at the tips.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
The venom is highly effective against insects and other spiders but is not known to be toxic to humans. They have very short fangs (chelicerae).
Medical Significance
Harmless. They are not considered medically significant. Their fangs rarely penetrate human skin, and if a bite occurrs, it typically results in a mild, short-lived stinging sensation.
Safety Recommendations
No action is typically needed. If you find them unsightly, they can be easily moved outside using the cup-and-paper method or simply swept away with a broom.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Cosmopolitan distribution; found worldwide. Highly associated with human structures, preferring dark, damp, or undisturbed areas like bathrooms, basements, and sheds.
Behavior & Temperament
Very sedentary and docile. When threatened, they perform a 'whirling' behavior, vibrating rapidly in their web to become a blur to predators.
Diet & Prey
Opportunistic hunters. They eat small insects (gnats, flies) and are famous for hunting other spiders, including much larger and more venomous species. Regarding your question: Yes, they will eat ants if they wander into the web area, but they are not primary ant-control specialists.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round in temperature-controlled indoor environments, though sightings may increase in spring and autumn.
Description
A common sight in homes across the globe, the Long-bodied Cellar Spider is a delicate, spindly arachnid that has traded heavy armor for reach and speed. Often found hanging upside down in ceiling corners, they are the quiet sentinels of the household.
Key Features
Elongate cylindrical abdomen, exceptionally long/thin legs, and the lack of a 'waist' constriction as seen in some other long-legged spiders.
Similar Species
Harvestmen (Opiliones) which have one body segment and no silk, and the Marbled Cellar Spider (Holocnemus pluchei) which has more distinct abdominal patterns.
Life Cycle
Females carry their silk-wrapped egg sacs in their jaws until they hatch. They can live up to 3 years in stable indoor environments.
Ecological Importance
Excellent natural pest control. They actively hunt and kill mosquitoes, house flies, and even invasive spider species.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN; they are extremely common and arguably benefit from human expansion.
Interesting Facts
There is a persistent urban legend that they are the 'most venomous spiders in the world but their fangs are too small.' This is false; their venom is actually quite weak to mammals.
Photography Tips
Focus on the cephalothorax to capture the eye arrangement. Use a macro lens if possible, as their translucent bodies can be hard for autofocus to track against a white ceiling.
User Notes
Crawls around my bathroom ceiling Also question does this spider get rid of ants
Identified: 2026-07-02T05:50:24.646722