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Longbodied Cellar Spider


The Longbodied Cellar Spider (Pholcus phalangioides) is, as it's name suggests, is often found in cellars, basements, and living spaces that are typically dark and undisturbed (such as the back of closets, corners, etc.). The Longbodied Cellar Spider is distinctive in its appearance. The body is a nondescript brownish-gray, and the legs are several times longer than the length of the body (the legs can reach up to 2" in length!)

The female of this species typically builds a large and irregularly shaped web. She then hangs upside down in the web with her legs partially folded, waiting for prey to happen by. She often catches her prey by throwing silk at it, and after it gets entangled, she bites it. 

The Longbodied Cellar Spider is found throughout the United States and stays active year-round. They are often confused with the grandaddy long-legs (which is not actually a spider), and can sometimes be confused with the Brown Recluse because the two occupy some of the same areas in our homes. Fortunately, with a little knowledge, the two can be distinguished quite easily.

This spider eats small insects as well as other spiders. 

It takes about a year for this spider to mature after hatching, and they have a lifespan of about 2 years.

There is an urban legend that follows this spider, as well as the granddaddy longlegs, that says these are one of the most venomous spiders in the world but their fangs are too short to deliver the venom to humans. However, there is no known scientific evidence for this, and these spiders are not known to bite humans. 

This is one of two cellar spiders in the United States. The other one is the Shortbodied Cellar Spider whose legs are about 1/2" in length.

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  • Home
  • Animals
    • Birds >
      • Avian Taxonomy
      • Bird Species Profiles
    • Mammal Species Profiles
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians >
      • Frog and Toad Species Profiles
    • Fish
    • Arthropods >
      • Arthropod Species Profiles
  • Plants
    • Native Plant Societies
    • Eastern Plant Identification Guide
  • Fungi
    • Fungi Species Profiles
  • Protists
  • Nature Products Store
  • Cell Phone Ringtones
  • Madbird Feeder Cam
  • Ramblings of the Madbird Biologist
  • Bird Videos
  • News in Science
  • Nature Inspired Recipes
  • An Introduction to Scientific Classification and Naming
  • Birds in the Classroom
  • Resources
  • About Me