THE INSECTLIBRARY FIELD GUIDES
Cellar SpiderIdentification, facts & practical guidance
Cellar spiders are members of Pholcidae, often recognized by a small body and exceptionally thin legs in a loose indoor web.
Compiled by the InsectLibrary Team · Updated · Editorial policy
Identification and lookalikes
They have two main body regions separated by a narrow waist. Harvestmen, also called daddy longlegs, have a more unified-looking body and do not make these webs. Not all long-legged spiders are cellar spiders.
Why they appear indoors
Corners, basements and other sheltered spaces offer web supports and prey. Outdoors they also occupy protected cavities. Their diet includes small arthropods caught in the web.
What to do next
For unwanted indoor webs, remove the web and reduce entry gaps and insect prey. Identify the animal before treating it as a pest; the common name daddy longlegs can refer to a different group.
Cellar Spider: species profiles
Explore 23 species profiles covered by this guide, with recorded names and available photos.
Tailed Cellar Spider
Crossopriza lyoni
(c) 祐, some rights reserved (CC BY)Harvestman Cellar Spider
Pholcus opilionoides
Northwestern Cellar Spider
Psilochorus hesperus
Physocyclus californicus
Physocyclus californicus
Psilochorus utahensis
Psilochorus utahensis
Psilochorus papago
Psilochorus papago
Marbled Cellar Spider
Holocnemus pluchei
Artema atlanta
Artema atlanta
Cellar Spider
Pholcus phalangioides
Micropholcus fauroti
Micropholcus fauroti
Modisimus culicinus
Modisimus culicinus
Modisimus texanus
Modisimus texanus
Showing 12 of 23 species. Browse all in Araneae →
Sources and further reading
- mdc.mo.gov - cellar spidershttps://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/cellar-spiders
References support the subject discussed here; they do not certify every imported directory record. Regional sources describe their own locations. Read our source and correction policy.