Tailed cellar spiders range from 0.098 to 0.28 inches in body size. This spider is sometimes called the box spider, and its abdomen is pointed at its top and rear. They regularly cannibalize each other, not to be confused with the shed exoskeletons left as the spiders grow.ĭefenses: If disturbed, the spider will shake its web back and forth quick enough to make the spider very hard to see to distract and confuse potential threats. Like other spiders that have the name daddy long leg the tailed cellar spider has a small body and long, thin legs. This is ridiculous and completely false, they have mild venom that takes quite a bit to even immobilize their small insect prey. 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. Prey is heavily wrapped in a veil of very fine silk, turning it whitish in color (see inset picture). I have even seen a deer tick captured by one of these spiders. Cellar spiders are also sometimes called daddy-long-legs spiders. 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. Because one of the common names for Pholcus phalangioides is daddylongleg spider, it is often confused with the Harvestmen daddylong legs, which are a separate species that is not even a true spider. Outdoors around houses and in crevices or caves.ĭiet: Insects such as flies, beetles, moths, centipedes, ants, mosquitoes and other spiders. Cellar spiders are also quick to autotomize (shed) legs to escape predators. Habitat: Houses, barns, sheds, basements, under porches, outbuildings, under tables, in cabinets and corners, and under furniture. Some people refer to them as vibrating spiders because of this habit. Spiderlings stay in the web with the mother until their first shedding. 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. Female long-bodied cellar spiders produce about three egg sacs over a lifetime, each containing 13-60 eggs each. The female short-bodied cellar spider has a 1/16 inch long body with legs extending about 5/16 inch. Web: Irregular tangle of web strands, not very strong. The female long-bodied cellar spider is approximately 1/4-5/16 inch long with legs extending another 2 inches. Mistakenly called a daddy-long legs, a distant relative of all spiders. Somewhat translucent looking, females larger than males and can have distended abdomens from eggs within. Description: Very long legged spider with small narrow body.
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