Cellar Spider Facts: aka Daddy Long Legs Facts 🕷️ Animal Fact Files

The cellar spider is also known as the daddy long legs. It shares this common name with at least two other animals: the harvestmen and the crane fly. Learn more cellar spider facts with today's episode. We've discussed other daddy long legs facts on Animal Fact Files, as well!
Harvestmen (Order: Opiliones): • Opiliones facts: they'...
Crane Fly (Family: Tipulidae): • Crane Fly facts: they ...
Scientific Name: Family - Pholcidae
Range: worldwide (except Antartica)
Habitat: caves, crevices, human-made shelters like garages, attics, and cellars
Size: average 0.25 inches (6mm) in body length; legs may be up to twenty times as long as body
Diet: other spiders like black widows and wolf spiders as well as insects like ants and crane flies
Threats: birds and other spiders (including each other!)
Lifespan: 3 years
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Cellar Spider DADDY LONG LEGS 0:00
Cellar Spider DANGEROUS 0:21
Cellar Spider DIET 2:01
Cellar Spider HABITAT 2:19
Cellar Spider SIZE 2:40
Cellar Spider VIBRATING SPIDER 3:00
Cellar Spider LIFE CYCLE 3:11
Thanks / Outro 3:33
---
Image and Video Credits:
osseous - flickr.com/photos/osseous/311...
alvaroreguly - flickr.com/photos/alvaroregul...
Paul VanDerWerf - flickr.com/photos/pavdw/23747...
Karen Ihrig - vimeo.com/24245479 ; vimeo.com/40965774
Ala's Najjar - • Pholcus phalangioides ...
Deadlyhappen - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Auseineranderenzeit - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
antdude - • A slow motion of a wal... ; • A slow motion of a wal...
Chris Muncy - • Daddy Long Legs nest a...
Dave Hood - • Spiders hatching
Goosh Poo - • Spider Twerking!
Birds Butterflies Nature BNHS - • Long-legged Harvestmen... ; • Cute Daddy Longleg Spi...
HerbertBoland - freesound.org/people/HerbertB...
zuditaka - • IshTube: Spiders in My...
stanze - flickr.com/photos/stanzebla/2...
Research Credits:
mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/fi...
entomology.ucr.edu/news/2022/...
www.thoughtco.com/cellar-spid...
www.tolweb.org/Pholcidae
bugguide.net/node/view/9608
www.sciencedirect.com/topics/...
spiders.ucr.edu/daddy-long-legs
hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/ce...
#animalfactfiles
#cellarspider
#daddylonglegs

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Just as a reminder: The name "daddy long legs" refers to at least three different animals! We have a video for each of them: -Cellar Spider (this video) -Harvestmen: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYfFgYhvi6Zkq7c -Crane Flies: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIOpZ5yvp9x0m7c Thanks for watching!

[@Katiethewizard]

I work at Petsmart and we have so many of these guys in the back 😩 I always leave them alone because they're good at catching any stray crickets from the bin lol

[@brianedwards7142]

I often have to evict them from the shower (for their own safety).

[@bugjams]

"Cellar spiders may vibrate to deter predators by making themselves harder to see." Honestly, I think they may just be shaking with anxiety 😭

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Honestly same

[@allisonhunter1063]

@@AnimalFactFiles How funny would it be if one day spiders could talk and we find out this whole time they were just dancing lol. I have a lil family of 3 living on my balcony. They have their corner and even though I have arachnophobia, I am trying to get over it. I think they're beautiful and love to watch them spin a web. The only time I'll interfere is if a bee gets caught and the spider hasn't come towards it. I've successfully rescued several bees from webs and removed the webbing from them, I usually put a few drops of water on the cement step until it creates a tiny bubble on the surface next to the bee, and they typically drag themselves through the water, drink some, and use their legs to clean the webbing off. A few have let me help them by letting me gently hold the webbing while they pull themselves out of it. I'd love to be able to hold a tarantula and KNOW I'm not going to drop it bc I'd feel AWFUL if I hurt one. That seems like the ultimate test for myself.

[@sodacurt]

Same

[@kaylyn3996]

I've always appreciated cellar spiders :) they're just so chill

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Same

[@janekgaganek3871]

Once such spider came to my aid while i was fighting a mosquito, it literally flew into the web while escaping my weapon, a perfect collaboration

[@briantaylor9285]

@@janekgaganek3871 Cellar Spider: "I got you, babe." 😎

[@MrSpartan117]

Facts bro

[@vovin8132]

These guys are good to have around. Because of their leg size, they can kill off pretty much any kind of bug or spider (or at least the ones where I live). They avoid people's living spaces and usually stick to their corners.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Agreed! I like leaving them where I find them!

[@PieterPatrick]

Not if you like Giant house spiders. :-) I will not remove a Giant house spider. But I do bring it to the cellar if I find one upstairs. lol

[@vovin8132]

@@PieterPatrick These are not giant house spiders. A “giant house spider” is a species of common house spiders, aka funnel webs. While house spiders are relatively common here in western Canada, I’ve only really seen a giant one before which was the size of a mouse (like 6-7” leg span). Cellar spiders will mess those ones up so they are good to keep around. Honestly, house spiders are good at pest control too, but I really don’t want those things running around

[@vovin8132]

@@PieterPatrick These are not giant house spiders. A “giant house spider” is a species of common house spiders, aka funnel webs. While house spiders are relatively common here in western Canada, I’ve only really seen a giant one before which was the size of a mouse (like 6-7” leg span). Cellar spiders will mess those ones up so they are good to keep around. Honestly, house spiders are good at pest control too, but I really don’t want those things running around

[@PieterPatrick]

@@vovin8132 The Giant house spider is the normal housespider here... ...I'm in The Netherlands. I always call them Harry. :-) They did scare me to dead 2 times, but I still love them.

[@blackguard5883]

I'll just through this out there: they're MORE than willing to share webs. I've seen single large compound webs with ten or more in residence. Pretty sure it's just a matter of convenience in an ideal prey corridor, but worth mentioning. There's a large population in the factory I work at. It stays warm inside all year round, and they over-winter there with little effort. Other point to make is they're able to take prey larger and more deadly than themselves _because_ of their longer legs. Gives a massive reach advantage when throwing silk to wrap the target up. If you can find *"The Cobweb Hotel,"* that old cartoon *very* much makes me think of cellar spiders.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Yes this is all very true! Thanks so much for sharing!! It's tough to fit everything into a short four minute video, so comments like these are really cool to see

[@niokhobayediouf3416]

They very social..I've seen then care for their young💪🇩🇴

[@allisonhunter1063]

Yep, the lil group of 3 I have on my balcony share pretty close quarters and have a massive web, I can also still easily see their first 2 sheds for all 3 cellar spiders. They must have JUST shed again bc they're all still really close to their sheds. And it almost looks like they intentionally shed both times in the same exact spots, all 3 of them with both sheds.

[@dantheman9784]

Being somebody who is into raising arachnids, I have one of these who lives in my room. I named her Charlotte and feed her extra crickets that my tarantulas or scorpions don't eat. Definitely don't want to kill or evict these spiders!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Charlotte sounds lovely!

[@ZdraveBass]

Fun thing I've noticed, during the day they tend to stay in the corners of rooms or behind furniture, but at night they like to explore the room, possibly looking for a better location. You don't normally notice that unless you spend time on your phone before going to sleep and one skittles on the part of the pillow that is lit up by the screen, scaring the shit out of you for 3s and it disappears.

[@austonparke8067]

I do plumbing in Idaho and as much as I hate spiders, it's kinda nice seeing these guys around because that usually means you don't have to worry about black widows and brown recluse as much.

[@Unseenbird74]

Well these. Spiders. Live everywhere in my house. They are useful for Halloween though 😂

[@H4I2I2EE]

I see these spiders in my house all the time. They're not going out of their way to interact with you if they can help it. They are completely harmless.

[@briantaylor9285]

Creepy looking, but ultimately, they're the good guys.

[@raynalefevre2226]

There are dozens of these guys in my house. I don't care what anyone thinks they're cute in their own way. I've always loved animals.

[@tracybowling1156]

I always see these in the bathroom. They should be called the shower spider! Whenever the kids scream SPIDER before a bath, this is what I see when I go to "save the day".

[@AnimalFactFiles]

To the rescue!

[@beeurd]

I always leave cellar spiders be, I've seen them in every room of my home, and my shed is full of them too. I can't stand house spiders but these guys eat them which is very much appreciated... I'm moving soon and I'm honestly considering taking some with me to make sure they clear the place of house spiders!

[@GlassyHades]

Why do I watch these kinda videos when I have arachnophobia...

[@ryanhollstein4164]

Think of it this way it is a horror movie that actually scares you.

[@GlassyHades]

@@ryanhollstein4164 That makes way too much sense...

[@rankepicdino8194]

@@GlassyHades I think daddy longlegs are the one spider you'll eventualyl fear less off. Once you get past the fact they just have long legs which at sometimes makes them look goofy when they walk cause they just bounce lol

[@jesper112183]

Sometimes they like to do a really cool dance too

[@zammmerjammer]

I used to live in a basement apartment and got to see multiple generations of these little crawlies birthed into the world. Would often feed them stupid annoying houseflies. I have a much nicer place now but I still sometimes miss my little spider buddies.

[@arcticdino1650]

I think you might be right about the myth existing because of the other daddy long legs, I have repeatedly heard it throughout my life in reference to harvestmen. Also, I remember from a cgp grey video that there is apparently also a plant called daddy long legs because of course humans decided to name a plant that

[@AnimalFactFiles]

I hadn't heard of the plant. Of course that exists 🙃

[@LoreMiuthos]

Cellar Spider are the reason I'm good with bigger spiders but not little ones. Used to watch these guys when I couldn't sleep at night as a little, tiny kid. They liked to spin their webs near where the nightlight was put.

[@DesktopDave123]

I saw a cellar spider in the corner of my kitchen ceiling, but I didn't really know if it was harmful to humans (in the situation of a human doing nothing to the spider). I just watched this video, so thanks for the info! It has actually been a real help, and it has been killing off a lot of flies that are honestly just really annoying. So far, it's just been chilling in my roof, haha. Sorry to be late!

[@paulatreides0777]

I have 10 or more in the kitchen I like them

[@jumpyspiderlady8454]

I didn’t know cellar spiders ate black widows. Makes sense though. Those long legs keep dangerous prey away from the vulnerable body while the cellar spider wraps it up and zooms in for tactical bites. Makes ya glad humans are as big as we are, eh? My husband has been bitten by a cellar spider before. He said it felt like almost nothing.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Yes I don't mind our size if it means avoiding some dangerous stuff! And wow I don't think I've met someone who's been bitten!

[@jumpyspiderlady8454]

@@AnimalFactFiles yeah. He reached behind a piece of furniture where there was a mama with eggs

[@nole8923]

@@jumpyspiderlady8454 Their bite is less than a mosquito bite. It goes away within a few hours. It’s actually rare for one to bite you. They usually just want to get away.

[@jumpyspiderlady8454]

@@nole8923 yeah that makes sense. When the one bit my husband, he had accidentally put his hand on one with an egg sac

[@Joe93819]

I love that you’re videos are made with the highest quality and aren’t pumped out in the mass for views, keep up the great work!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Thank you so much! We definitely strive for quality over quantity here

[@KrawllUnchained]

I have one living in my room, i actually found that one today while doing some much overdue cleaning hehe. I have another one living in my bathroom, that one has been living there for several months and i've named it Scilla, like the big titan spider from the Godzilla movies. Cellar spiders tend to pay their rent by helping control other bug population in the house so i leave them alone. Every summer i have a few that build their webs in my room and bathroom and i always leave them alone and they always catch other bugs.

[@apss5736]

Ugh craneflies terrify me. Cellar spiders are awesome invertebrates and I have seen one take down a big cranefly

[@DanDaFreakinMan]

I saw it fight a white tail spider on Monster Bug War. Despite looking more fragile it still came up on top

[@Jefuslives]

I keep these as welcome housemates. Cute and helpful!

[@randomcommenter1433]

I see these guys literally everywhere.

[@wayneholmes637]

I have at least one of these in every room. The only thing I do is clean up old webs but otherwise I leave them alone. I recently watched one capture a much bigger spider in my living room. They really do a lot to keep other arachnids and insects under control.

[@pobafet8779]

Got these in my apartment. Free pest control and trying not to kill them when they move into the shower.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Exactly! Free pest control is why I like to keep them around!

[@TMS5100]

I love the cellar spiders in my garage. I feed them the annoying bugs that fly into my rooms. It's entertaining to watch them as they wrap the prey in silk -- they will pull unneeded strands of web up to their mouth and bite the strand to cut it, like you might bite a piece of string with your teeth to cut it. It's pretty neat. I wait till they get thin, then feed them and check on them the next day and there's a nice plump spooder.

[@FriendlyKat]

Wow, I had no idea that there were other creatures (other than the harvestman) known as daddy long legs. Thanks for the informative video!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Glad you learned something new!

[@sunshinethor420]

I just found a cellerbro in my livingroom in an area i havent dusted in months. Imma put him back in there. He was minding his own.

[@patrogers6297]

All apisers scare me too death except the “baby jumping hoppies” which I call them. I like all animal ,reptile and insect species but cant get over the sudden fear when i see a spider. SO I watch hundreds of videos to try to alleviate my fear. Thank you for your video of celllar spiders.

[@richardparker3273]

Daddy Long Legs are scary. I leave them alone cuz I know they're harmless and don't usually get near me, and I don't wanna hurt them, but they're definitely scary 😱

[@achraf7344]

Wow thanks for the information that was helpful 😊❤️

[@nickbrommer2919]

"Hey daddy"

[@markwambach1791]

I have been trying to find research about how well these spiders can see. I see some regularly and, despite picking out-of-the-way places, there are some that approach me from their lairs. A distance of over 2 feet, sometimes. Then, they hang above me. This makes me curious about their vision and other behaviors. So, reference to informative research links would be greatly appreciated.

[@jdub7775]

They make great pets. I have one now and I am so happy. 😊

[@Manish-ok2yd]

Great info

[@FeatheredCreature]

I did not know that people called crane flies daddy long legs

[@lknanml]

I get these little cannibals in my bathroom all the time. Remodeling it so there are some gaps in the greenboard. For the last 5 years..... Epic remodel! I seemingly have to rescue one of these guys everyday when I take a shower. Then there is always one or two in a corner of the shower running to get a drink them BAM. One takes out the other. CRAWLY NOOOOO... Got some ants after heavy rain. Ants came in right under the spiders. I let them run around for a few days. Just Carpenter ants. Dead webbed up ants all piled up. Go get em boys.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Oh wow that sounds like quite the adventure of a bathroom!

[@ryanhollstein4164]

@@AnimalFactFiles i would call it the bathroom wars

[@ryanhollstein4164]

@@AnimalFactFiles the winner gets the throne

[@apss5736]

great video

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Thanks so much!

[@kaotic300]

these guys are good at getting other spiders while they're in their web, out of their web they become easy prey. i use cellar spiders to feed my eastern parson spider during winter when other bugs are hard to find.

[@Pjvenom1985]

Very interesting, definitely seen these in our shed an I believe they are also around our house from time to time too, didn't know they could actually bite us thought they where harmless in that regard. The roommates I've had in the house over the years have been nothing but quiet calm and considerate anyway.🕷🏡☘

[@penny_the_wiser413]

They usually run away from me if I see them. My old place had a lot of spiders. I work up once after I felt my hair move. There was a huge Wolf Spider in my hair. 😳

[@kalicunningham9139]

Only spider i’ll allow in my house

[@user-st2ti4wy1w]

Cellar spiders are a cool dudes.

[@jazzborinaga6774]

Hello, I am a fan of your amazing videos. Me and my younger brother learned a lot about animals and microorganisms. I am curious about ribbon worm and I want to learn more about them. I hope you can make a video about them. 🙏🙏😊😊😊🥰🥰🥰

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Oh that's a really cool suggestion! Thank you! And thanks for watching!! So glad you both enjoy the videos

[@jamjar2677]

really wish i didn’t have such a strong fear of these type of spiders

[@pennytrui1149]

Same they are so creepy lol the skinny legs and their fast af

[@rankepicdino8194]

@@pennytrui1149 I think despite the legs they are one of the spiders that aren't as scary as half of them you get. I think just the really long legs can put people off

[@ryanhollstein4164]

Interesting creatures

[@tannermcguire7713]

The only bugs that I'm okay with living in my house

[@silentshot-xh5ir]

Could you do a video on Pelican spiders?

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Oh that's a really cool idea! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@PRStuntin6693]

used to catch these at work and release them at home. had about 20 i could see at home because i wanted them around and not any others because we had a black widow problem at my house. i caught 2 out of like 400

[@adamoliver82]

I was observing a Cellar Spider on her web with a clutch of eggs held in her mouth that was living above the toilet at work recently. I kept an eye on her for ages, waiting to see the little spiderlings. Then one day the eggs were gone and there was no little spiders. I presumed she ate them.

[@delphinemorgan3839]

There is a cellar spider in my bathroom and I’m trying to not feel scared of him so I’ve worked out he’s a male and named him jeffy and now I’m finding out more about him in hopes we can be friends

[@Ant-445]

Could you make a video about an Ant War? Maybe Termites vs Ants

[@lucifermorningstar4606]

I have hundreds of these in my house... They can kill black widows? They can become a blur... Wow... And can bite.

[@user-st2ti4wy1w]

Cellar spiders are a very cool dudes.

[@justsayen2024]

My mom used to call their webs Irish lace ☘ that is when they start collecting dust..🙂

[@miacarrillo5952]

Hello I have a momma of these whom had a egg sack in her jaw for couple days. eventually hatched. fed her n babies mosquitos and moths for a few days but now she is completely gone and i see a few babies that are clearly alive and a couple more that seem to be dead but not sure if it is just there molt? is the timeline to molt from hatching a few days? i sure miss momma spider and i cant find her anywhere in my room. so im here researching trying to find answers

[@BLOODKINGbro]

Only time I ever see these guys is when they're hanging upside down the bunch of white mold on them

[@Lexielouwho]

Can cellar spiders change the color of their silk? I ask cause one spun a ton of web in my bathroom overnight and when i grabbed it with white toilet paper i was shocked to see it was pink. It looked like spun cotten candy.

[@penny_the_wiser413]

I had a lot of what my landlord called Common House Spiders. The female looks like a lot the a Brown Widow. I caught one to show him. He's an exterminator

[@ryanhollstein4164]

I heard that all widow spiders are dangerous. Is that true?

[@penny_the_wiser413]

@@ryanhollstein4164 I know black and brown ones are. The ones I found are in the widow family but not as dangerous. At least according to my landlord.

[@ryanhollstein4164]

@@penny_the_wiser413 thank you for the information.

[@penny_the_wiser413]

@@ryanhollstein4164 you're welcome. My friend calls me a nerd for knowing this stuff. I like bugs, what else is there to say

[@ryanhollstein4164]

@@penny_the_wiser413 you are not a nerd. You just have an appreciation for knowledge.

[@ikeepcoins388]

I have one near my trash can, his name is Minnie wheat but he's huge.

[@concretecurse6594]

Yep they're bros. I'm not a fan of wolf spiders in my house and I've seen a daddy long leg make lunch out of one

[@jeffj9055]

This spider is very good spider to have in the house and get rid of insects in house .

[@professorpenne9962]

I have a bunch of spiders living in my walls. have never had a problem with ants, mosquitoes or other bugs. spiders are awesome unless they are venomous but even then they don't go after humans, you have to be messing with it first.

[@20108669]

Always welcome in my house. These amazing spiders kill other more horrible spiders 😊

[@xtwilliamplayzyt4809]

Dance and dance spider

[@richardr3511]

So what is the predator of these cellar spiders then? I often see these spiders near triagulate cob web spiders in the garbage room where I live but the cellar ones are gone the next day but cob web spiders still there.

[@tremainej8171]

Daddy long leg 😑 MY ARCH NEMESIS, WE MEET AGAIN........ Me: 👣👣👣👣👣 RUNS TO GET A 🩴

[@A_332doesrandomstuff]

I got a ak-47

[@cds3703]

my dad has no chill for cellar spiders since he hates their cobwebs

[@pedrogabrielduarte4544]

Make a vídeo about jacanas

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Love this suggestion! Thank you!

[@humayungaznfar7229]

So i have a pet marbled cellarspider she was really cool and she spend a time withe me and suddenly she laid 50 eggs and baybies but my four baybies they start growing up and then they exiting me

[@indyreno2933]

Can you do fact files on the yak?

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Love this suggestion!

[@aleah559]

I know I've already suggested this, but I'm not sure if you saw it. Can you do a video on the linsang? Such a cool animal but I can't find much info about it online. I love your videos, I watch them religiously! Thank you :)

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Oh yes that's an excellent suggestion and it is on the list! Thank you so much!!

[@ryanhollstein4164]

I heard that all widow spiders are dangerous is that true.

[@ryanhollstein4164]

Sorry wrong comment

[@houstoncasey2639]

Has anyone here actually ever been but by one? And if so how painful on a scale of 1-10? I handle them all the time and have never been bitten. Just curious.

[@ucees-_-]

0/10 its not painful dont worry

[@jesper112183]

I'm so sick of wildly untrue but somehow extremely widespread misconceptions that I am just going to start making up b*******

[@debblackmore7460]

I will keep bathroom door shut if can bite ya

[@robloxearthworldforever]

MY CELLAR EAT A CRANE FLY BEFORE

[@randomedits8025]

How and when?!

[@khymanser391]

Are cellar spiders animals or insects

[@AnimalFactFiles]

They are animals as well as arachnids (they are not insects)

[@jalilmuhammad8270]

Pholcus phalangioides.

[@creamofthecrop6743]

Why do they repel down to my face?

[@sreser111]

These are not ever called daddy long legs. you have been mis infomed.

[@truthbetold7718]

NOBODY refers crane flies as daddy long legs. LOL

[@pillepolle3122]

WHY NAME DADDY

[@icyada_plays3492]

Daddy long legs aren't spiders. They're incects. The most obvious difference between them and spiders is the number of legs they have. Daddy long legs have 6 legs where as spiders have 8. That's the knowledge I grew up with at least

[@AnimalFactFiles]

You probably grew up learning that the animals also commonly known as crane flies are "daddy long legs"; crane flies are insects, however they are not the only animals with the common name "daddy long legs". There are least three different groups of animals called "daddy long legs" and the cool part is that the name is correct for every single one of them! If you want to learn more about what sounds to be *your* "daddy long legs" (the crane fly), you can check out our video on them here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIOpZ5yvp9x0m7c

[@zammmerjammer]

Harvestmen are not insects. They're arachnids but not true spiders.

[@Guest_guy840]

I think i might have killed one

[@meeeeeee-uz1im]

I have these everywhere in my house and outside but I also have never seen another bug or spider so they can stay I have seen them rip each other's legs off fighting one little guy on my porch has just four legs. Fun fact if you tap the web and give them mealworms eventually they associate you with food and come down to feed