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Family
Pholcidae
Characteristics –
Size: Up to 3/4-inch in body length with an extremely
thin shape.
Color: Pale whitish or cream.
Their extremely long legs make the spiders appear much larger and
give them their nickname of daddy long legs spiders.
Behavior –
Cellar spiders spin large, tangled webs and hang upside down within
the web. When disturbed, they shake the web violently. They are not
dangerous spiders and actually are quite beneficial in that they
have been known to capture and eat other spiders, including even
black widow and brown recluse spiders. Once their web becomes old
and unusable, cellar spiders construct additional webbing attached
to the old web. Over time, considerable amounts of cobwebs can
accumulate.
Habitat – Cellar spiders prefer dark, damp
areas, such as crawl spaces, basements, and sheds, although they may
be common around doorways, in warehouses, and sometimes in garages
of homes.
Tips for Control – Regular removal of cellar
spiders with a vacuum, brush or broom helps limit the numbers of
spiders. Other steps may be helpful, including:
 | Sealing
cracks and holes in the building's exterior.
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| Installing
tight-fitting screens in foundation and attic vents.
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| Using
yellow bug light bulbs in exterior light fixtures to attract
fewer of the flying insects on which the spiders feed.
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| Keeping
garage doors and commercial overhead doors closed to exclude
flying insects that serve as spiders food. |
In cases involving considerable numbers of spiders or when control
efforts are needed in crawl spaces, a professional company such as Curtis
Pest Control should be consulted.
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