Arachnids of North Carolina
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Pholcus phalangioides - Longbodied cellar spider     Pholcidae Members: NC Records BugGuide Account Public View
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Prosoma with single dark central mark

Distribution Records
PDF

Vetting Levels
Adult phenology:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge

synonym
taxonomic_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."
id_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. 6mm
structural_features
silk_web Irregular, typically found in dark corners, under shelves, cellars, caves, and mines
fld_guide_descriptions
online_photos
prey
predators
behavior When disturbed in their webs, these spiders will gyrate wildly, becoming very hard to see.
distribution_reference
technical_reference
adult_id 1 identifiable by photo 2 identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info 3 identifiable from specimen only
abundance Synanthropic and common
distribution_comments Common in buildings worldwide.
checklist_mt_high
>=4,000 ft.
Regular
Frequent
Infrequent
Occasional
Seldom
Frequency
checklist_mt_low
<4,000 ft.
Regular
Frequent
Infrequent
Occasional
Seldom
checklist_pd
Piedmont
Regular
Frequent
Infrequent
Occasional
Seldom
checklist_cp
Coastal Plain
Regular
Frequent
Infrequent
Occasional
Seldom
habitat Dark, often dank locations: dark corners, under shelves, in cellars, caves, mines and garages
observation_methods
state_protection
NHP_ranks
NHP_status
status_comments

Photo Gallery for Pholcus phalangioides Longbodied cellar spider

Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
Comment: This juvenile specimen was in a tangle web just a few inches above the adult specimen recorded on 2024-08-25.
Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
Comment: This juvenile specimen was in a tangle web just a few inches above the adult specimen recorded on 2024-08-25.
Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Macon Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Nash Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Nash Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA - Fort casemates @ -76.678663, 34.696309
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Hyde Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Carol Ann McCormick
Alamance Co.
Comment: Inside home in midst of hardwood forest
Recorded by: Carol Ann McCormick
Alamance Co.
Comment: Inside home in midst of hardwood forest
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: found indoors
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: found indoors
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, N. Williamson, B. Hartness, Z. Lunn
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dillon WARWICK
Johnston Co.
Comment: With multiple spiderlings on underside of folding work table in garage. Spm escaped after ex situ photos.
Recorded by: Dillon WARWICK
Johnston Co.
Comment: With multiple spiderlings on underside of folding work table in garage. Spm escaped after ex situ photos.
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, C. Bowers, H. Anderson, J. Brown
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Dare Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA - fort sallyport @ -76.678895, 34.696135
Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA - fort sallyport @ -76.678895, 34.696135
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Polk Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Polk Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: found indoors
Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA - common in Fort Casemates
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - inside door to the old canoe building
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: SBW
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI