You may have seen the delicate, long-legged cellar spider in the quiet corners of your Illinois home. It’s often surrounded by myths about its danger. Let’s uncover the truth about these fascinating arachnids. We’ll explore their unique traits and behaviors. We’ll also look at their role in your home.

What are Cellar Spiders?

Cellar spiders belong to the family Pholcidae. They are known for their long bodies and very long, thin legs. Their appearance has earned them the nickname “daddy longlegs.” But, this term can also refer to the harvestman insect, which is not a spider.

Cellar Spider Size and Identification

There are approximately 20 different species of cellar spiders across the US and Canada, varying in size and coloration. Cellar spiders have long bodies. Their bodies measure 7 to 8 millimeters in length. Their front legs span 45 to 50 millimeters. In contrast, short-bodied cellar spiders are smaller. Their bodies are only a few millimeters long and their front legs reach about 9.5 millimeters.

These spiders are usually gray, tan, or yellow. They sometimes have dark markings on their knees. Like all spiders, they have eight legs and eight eyes. They have two central eyes and three clustered eyes on each side of their head.

Habits of Cellar Spiders

The spiders like cool, dark, and damp places. These include basements, crawl spaces, and attics. They spin lumpy webs. The webs are not sticky but are effective traps for small insects like ants, flies, and other spiders. Cellar spiders hang upside down from their webs, patiently awaiting prey that triggers vibrations.

Cellar spiders are known to eat their own kind. They may invade and eat other spider species. They reproduce by laying many egg sacs during their life. Each sac contains many spiderlings that disperse shortly after hatching.

What Attracts Cellar Spiders in Illinois?

Several factors attract cellar spiders to your Illinois home:

• There are many food sources: Bad pest control can increase insect populations. This attracts cellar spiders searching for food.
• Ideal Environments: These include areas like basements, crawlspaces, and dark corners. They provide the cool, damp conditions that cellar spiders prefer for nesting and web-spinning.

What Do Cellar Spiders Eat?

Cellar spiders are opportunistic feeders, preying on a variety of small insects that become ensnared in their webs. Their diet typically includes mosquitoes, gnats, moths, flies, and even other spiders. Despite their fragile appearance, cellar spiders play a crucial role. They control insect populations in your home.

The Big Question: Are Cellar Spiders Dangerous?

Cellar spiders have venom glands and fangs. But, their venom is mild. They mainly use it to paralyze prey caught in their webs. Contrary to popular belief, their fangs are too short. Their venom is too weak to pose any big threat to humans. Cellar spiders rarely bite people. Their bites are non-lethal and usually cause minimal pain.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cellar spiders are helpful. They aid in pest control without posing danger to people or pets. Understanding their habits and traits helps dispel myths. It also lets you appreciate their role in keeping a balanced Illinois home ecosystem.

At Pest Control Consultants, we specialize in safe and effective spider control. We tailor our solutions for residential or commercial locations. We are experts. We remove and manage cellar spiders and other pests. We keep your home pest-free. We focus on your family’s safety and comfort. Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive pest management services.