Serving Edmonton for over 120 years

Cellar Spiders

Identification

Size: Cellar spiders, also known as daddy longlegs, typically have bodies that measure around 2 to 10 millimeters in length, with their long legs extending much farther, sometimes spanning several inches.

Color: These spiders are generally pale yellow to light brown in color, sometimes appearing translucent due to their delicate bodies.

Description: Cellar spiders, commonly referred to as daddy longlegs due to their exceedingly long and thin legs, are small arachnids with a slender body and exceptionally long limbs. They are often found in dark, damp areas like basements and crawl spaces, where they construct irregular and messy webs.

Cellar spiders belong to the family Pholcidae and are recognized by their extremely long, delicate legs in comparison to their small bodies. Their bodies range from pale yellow to light brown and may appear almost translucent. These spiders are commonly found in dark and damp environments such as basements, cellars, and crawl spaces where they construct irregular, tangled webs that lack the typical organized structure of orb webs.

They are characterized by their fragile appearance due to their thin legs and small body. Their leg span can be significantly larger than their body size, which gives them a distinctive and somewhat fragile appearance. Unlike many spiders, cellar spiders do not build traditional, organized webs but instead create irregular, messy webs that they use to catch prey.

These spiders prefer dark, undisturbed areas where they can hang upside down from their webs. They are generally harmless to humans and are known for their habit of vibrating their webs when threatened, creating a quick blur of movement.

Cellar spiders are beneficial as they prey on other insects and pests, helping to control populations of unwanted bugs within their habitats.

Distinctive Appearance: Cellar spiders, also known as daddy longlegs, have small bodies and extremely long, delicate legs. They typically measure between 2 to 10 millimeters in body length, with legs that can span several inches. Their bodies are pale yellow to light brown in color.
Long Legs: Their most distinguishing feature is their long, thin legs, which are significantly longer than their bodies. Cellar spiders have eight legs, giving them an appearance of fragility.
Habitat: These spiders are often found in dark, damp environments such as basements, cellars (hence the name), crawl spaces, and corners of buildings.
Web Structure: Cellar spiders construct irregular, messy webs that are usually tangled or cobweb-like. They do not create the classic organized orb-shaped webs.

Webbing: Finding irregular, messy cobwebs in dark, undisturbed areas of your home or building could indicate the presence of cellar spiders.
Sightings: Observing small-bodied spiders with extremely long, thin legs, typically in dark, damp locations, might suggest the presence of cellar spiders.
Habitat Preference: Discovering these spiders in basements, cellars, or other dark and humid areas of a building indicates their habitation.
Web Structure: Identifying tangled, haphazard webs in corners or crevices of buildings where these spiders are commonly found.

Reduce Clutter: Regularly clean and declutter dark, damp areas like basements, crawl spaces, and corners, eliminating potential hiding spots for cellar spiders.
Seal Entry Points: Seal cracks, gaps, and other potential entry points in your home or building to prevent spiders from entering.
Improve Ventilation: Enhance airflow and reduce humidity in basements or damp areas to make the environment less appealing to cellar spiders.
Regular Cleaning: Regularly dust and vacuum dark and undisturbed areas to remove existing webs and discourage cellar spiders from establishing their habitat.

By understanding their identification markers and implementing preventive measures, you can manage cellar spider populations in your living or working spaces.