Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Pholcidae Members: NC Records

Pholcus phalangioides - Longbodied cellar spider


Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Pholcidae                                                                                 
Comments: First described as Aranea phalangoides Fuesslin, 1775 (gender masculine), 30 years later, in 1805, Walkenaer erected the genus Pholcus, with phalangioides as its type.
Species Comment: "Pholcus" is most likely to have been used as meaning "squinty-eyed," considering the layout of the family Pholcidae's 6 eyes. The specific epithet refers to this spider's passing resemblance to members of the order Opiliones,the harvestmen, which includes the suborder Phalangioidea an--in a different suborder--the family Phalangiidae. This superficial similarity has resulted in some harvestmen being colloquially called "(grand) daddy longlegs" and the longbodied cellar spider sometimes being referred to by the same name or as the "(grand) daddy longlegs spider."
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIF
Comments: Extremely long legs (6-8 times longer than the body), pale in color, usually upside down in a web.
Total Length: Females 7-8mm; males ca. 6mmAdult ID: identifiable by photo
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Common in buildings worldwide.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Adult phenology:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Dark, often dank locations: dark corners, under shelves, in cellars, caves, mines and garages
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency: Synanthropic and common
Silk / Web: Irregular, typically found in dark corners, under shelves, cellars, caves, and mines
Behavior: When disturbed in their webs, these spiders will gyrate wildly, becoming very hard to see.
Status in North Carolina
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 Photo Gallery for Pholcus phalangioides - Longbodied cellar spider

46 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-19
Nash Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-19
Nash Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-11-02
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-03
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-07-29
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-07-29
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-07-29
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-07-29
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-07-29
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-07-29
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-07-14
Hyde Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-06-17
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: Carol Ann McCormick on 2023-01-05
Alamance Co.
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Recorded by: Carol Ann McCormick on 2023-01-05
Alamance Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-11-19
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-11-19
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2022-05-01
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-03-30
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-03-30
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-12-06
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, N. Williamson, B. Hartness, Z. Lunn on 2021-10-26
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: Dillon WARWICK on 2021-07-03
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Dillon WARWICK on 2021-07-03
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, C. Bowers, H. Anderson, J. Brown on 2021-04-21
Cumberland Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-12-29
Dare Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-11-25
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-11-25
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-10-27
New Hanover Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-10-05
Surry Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-09-20
Durham Co.
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