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. Pholcus phalangioides (Fuesslin 1775) Pholcus phalangioides (Long Bodied Cellar Spider) is a species of spiders in the family daddy long-legs spiders. 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. 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. Outdoors around houses and in crevices or caves.ĭiet: Insects such as flies, beetles, moths, centipedes, ants, mosquitoes and other spiders. Habitat: Houses, barns, sheds, basements, under porches, outbuildings, under tables, in cabinets and corners, and under furniture. 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. Web: Irregular tangle of web strands, not very strong. 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. However, for large infestations, it is best to contact a professional pest control service to remove these pests effectively.Description: Very long legged spider with small narrow body. If you spot any cellar spiders or their webs around your home, you can use a vacuum to remove them, making sure to empty the debris into a sealable bin. However, they are generally considered a pest and can be an alarming sight for anyone with arachnophobia. They are all small-bodied (usually about 5 mm long) and very. They do not actually cause structural damage to homes or other buildings, or pose health risks to humans. Cellar spiders, also called daddy-longlegs spiders, are pretty easy to identify to family. Commonly Asked Questions How worried should I be about cellar spiders?Ĭellar spiders can live for about two years and produce up to 60 offspring. Mature adults enjoy a lifespan of approximately two years. Instead of attaching eggs to webs, walls, or other surfaces, cellar spiders hold the sacs with their mouthparts until the eggs hatch. Each generation may yield 13 to 60 offspring at a time. Females produce as many as three egg sacs over the course of their lifetime. Life Cycleįrom egg to adult, immature cellar spiders take about one year to fully develop. They target insects, other spiders, and small invertebrates, particularly ants. Like most spiders, cellar spiders are beneficial creatures that prey on other pest species. The long-legged spiders also prefer higher levels of humidity. Found year-round in heated structures, the pests like to dwell in cellars, warehouses, basements, crawl spaces, garages, caves, and other dark and quiet environments. Habitat, Diet, and Life Cycle HabitatĬellar spiders derive their name from their preferred habitat. Manage humidity levels with dehumidifiers, ensure proper ventilation of cellars, seal cracks around doors and windows, change your outdoor lighting to yellow. How to prevent Cellar Spiders from invading Especially large infestations may require treatment with appropriately labelled pesticides by a pest management professional. Keep an eye out for new webs that indicate further cellar spider activity. Vacuum up any webbing and adults, and empty the vacuum bag or canister into a sealable trash bin. Cellar Spiders RemovalĬellar spiders are particularly easy to remove from buildings with the assistance of a vacuum cleaner. Additionally, the sight of adult cellar spiders lingering in dark, quiet, and musty locations around the building and surrounding property points to an infestation problem. Spotting loose or haphazard webbing, especially in corners, indicates the presence of cellar spiders. Where many species consume old spider webs before spinning a new one, cellar spiders continue to add to existing webs. Webs left by cellar spiders contribute to their status as nuisance pests. Colouration ranges from pale tan and yellow to grey. The abdomen of the cellar spider is three times greater in length than width and cylindrical in shape. Including the length of the legs increases the total length of the body by more than six times. Longer than most other spider species, the cellar spider ranges from 7 to 8 mm in length, not counting the legs.
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