![]() Both “Daddy Longlegs” are not known to bite. Females are larger than the male growing to around 8mm, with males growing to around 6mm in body length. The long-bodied cellar spider has an oval-shaped body and can range in color from gray to brown or even a pale yellow. This is different from other spiders belonging to the family of Pholcidae that have six eyes. Also known as the daddy-longlegs spider The long-bodied cellar spider has eight eyes. They are non-poisonous and are considered to be beneficial in a garden, ridding it of insects, slugs, and mites. Common name: daddy long-legs spider, long-bodied cellar spider, skull spider. The innocent cellar spider is usually located in damp, dark areas like basements, crawl spaces and cellars, which is why it has the name. When they are not living in the home, garage, or shed, Cellar spiders are found in naturally protected areas like rock piles and caves.ĭespite the urban legend that states, “ Daddy Longlegs are the most poisonous spider but their fangs are too short to bite humans……? Daddy Longlegs do not possess poison glands. They shake their web violently to ward of predators and use it to catch and eat other spiders, moths, gnats, flies, mosquitoes, and other creatures common indoors. It is also known as the skull spider, since its cephalothorax is said to resemble a human skull. These spiders will eat other spiders, even black widows.Ĭellar Daddy Longlegs do build webs and hang out in ceiling corners. Pholcus phalangioides, commonly known as the cosmopolitan cellar spider, long-bodied cellar spider or one of various types called a daddy long-legs spider, is a spider of the family Pholcidae. The daddy longlegs have a small, oval-shaped, tan, or grey body, surrounded by four pairs of legs that span up to 6 inches. They were always called by the common name of “Daddy Longlegs? by the general public, so because of the confusion, Arachnologists have gone ahead and given Cellar spiders the nickname of “Daddy Longlegs.? Unlike true Daddy Longlegs, Cellar spiders have 2 basic body parts, 8 legs, and 8 eyes (all clumped together). Long-bodied cellar spiders are most famous for two things: their freakishly long and thin legs and their hilarious alternative moniker daddy longlegs. ![]() Daddy Longlegs) are in the family Pholcidae. However, in the unlikely event of a bite from this species, a positive identification of the spider by an expert should be made and medical attention sought if any reaction persists for more than a short time.Close-up of Cellar Spider ( Pholcus phalangioides) Cellar spiders: (A.K.A. The cellar spider, otherwise known as the daddy longlegs, is a species of spider known for its long legs and wide webs. Most reputable sources, including the University of California, Riverside, still say that this species would never be considered as harmful to humans. Recently, however, it was shown that the tiny fangs (about 0.25 mm) were actually capable of piercing human skin in a test done on the US television show, Mythbusters, but the stinging sensation produced was very short-lived. ![]() What they look like: Look for oval-shaped bodies ranging in color from pale yellow to soft brown or gray, and cylindrical abdomens three times longer than they are wide. These spiders have bodies around 8.5 mm (1/3 inch) but can. It had been thought that the fangs of this spider were incapable of piercing human skin. Cellar Spiders Found in long- and short-bodied varieties, cellar spiders are sometimes mistaken for daddy-long legs, which are not actually spiders. Cellar spiders (Family: Pholicidae) have long, narrow legs and are often confused with harvestmen. However, the venom is not actually that potent, even for insects. There are nearly 2,000 species of Pholcidae distributed in the entire USA and also worldwide. Pholcidae is actually not a species but a family of spiders. Cellar spiders are harmless to humans and actually beneficial, as they feed on other insects, including moths, mosquitoes, and cockroaches. However, it has become so common for each of these to be called Cellar Spiders, or Daddy Long-Legs, that it is now considered correct for all three. Its most identifying feature is its long, thin legs, which can be up to twice the length of its body. The myth probably grew from observations that the Daddy-long-legs Spider will kill and eat a Redback Spider. The cellar spider is small-sized (7 to 8 mm), often found in cellars and other dark, damp places. However, there is no scientific evidence to back this up. ![]() ![]() There is a persistent belief that the Daddy-long-legs Spider has the most toxic venom of all spiders. ![]()
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