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Unfortunately, it appears as if all of the articles are just referencing each other without ever consulting the original research. In my own online research, I ran across reference after reference to “recent research by Alan Van Dyke” that shows cellar spider venom to be weak even against insects. As scientists often do, Adam and Jamie began their project with a little bit of research however, since bites from cellar spiders are so rarely reported, it seems that no one had ever bothered to really study the effects their venom has on humans! Initially, this certainly leant some credence to at least part of the myth! They paid a visit to arachnologist, Chuck Kristensen ( who happens to be a contributor to bugguide) who milked one of these dangly-legged creatures and found that the potency of its venom pales in comparison to the venom of the black widow. In fact, this myth is so widespread that the Mythbusters themselves took a whack at debunking it and debunk it, they did. It is a common misconception that the daddy long legs has the most powerful venom in the world but lacks the equipment necessary to deliver it through human skin. So, technically cellar spiders are venomous but do they possess the deadliest venom in the world? While there are a handful of spiders that lack venom glands altogether, almost all spider species are venomous however, most are not dangerous to humans.
![are long bodied cellar spiders dangerous are long bodied cellar spiders dangerous](https://content.eol.org/data/media/28/14/ec/18.https___www_inaturalist_org_photos_1011385.jpg)
Well, this is a bit of a loaded question. I was at the gas station pumping gas, and I noticed it dangling almost right in front of my face! I haven’t been able to identify this one, yet. I found it on a brick wall of the school building during one of my lunchtime nature walks. I believe this specimen is a marbled cellar spider (Holocnemus pluchei). Take one look at these fragile dangly-legged creatures, and you will understand why some people consider them to be the daddy long legs.
![are long bodied cellar spiders dangerous are long bodied cellar spiders dangerous](https://spiderid.com/wp-content/uploads/20180130_134038-e1522183149831.jpg)
Interestingly, both of the specimen that I photographed for this post were found outside.Īll cellar spiders are found within the Pholcidae family, and there are approximately 20 different known species in North America with the long-bodied cellar spider (Pholcus phalangioides)īeing the most common. They prefer to live indoors and are frequently found up high in undisturbed corners. It’s just that I’ve been busy, and I haven’t had a chance to go where they most likely would be found. To the contrary, I see them quite often and was surprised when I couldn’t find one in my garage. It’s not that they are rare or hard to find. I have been wanting to write this article for some time, but it took a while to find a specimen to photograph. They regularly cannibalize each other, not to be confused with the shed exoskeletons left as the spiders grow.ĭefenses: If disturbed, the spider will shake its web back and forth quick enough to make the spider very hard to see to distract and confuse potential threats.In today’s article, we will tackle the daddy long legs in the right image: the cellar spider. This is ridiculous and completely false, they have mild venom that takes quite a bit to even immobilize their small insect prey. One myth that surrounds these spiders is the fact that they have the most toxic venom of any spider but cannot bite because they are too small. Prey is heavily wrapped in a veil of very fine silk, turning it whitish in color (see inset picture). I have even seen a deer tick captured by one of these spiders. These spiders capture large amounts of household pests such as mosquitoes, flies, larder chafers, drugstore beetles, meal moths, ants, Asian ladybugs and other spiders (ones that wander on the floors).
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They are extremely beneficial to have in your home. Outdoors around houses and in crevices or caves.ĭiet: Insects such as flies, beetles, moths, centipedes, ants, mosquitoes and other spiders. Habitat: Houses, barns, sheds, basements, under porches, outbuildings, under tables, in cabinets and corners, and under furniture. Spiderlings stay in the web with the mother until their first shedding. It is built in dark corners and crevices.Įggs: 17-42, held in a very fine sac of silk, held by the female in her web. Web: Irregular tangle of web strands, not very strong. Mistakenly called a daddy-long legs, a distant relative of all spiders. Somewhat translucent looking, females larger than males and can have distended abdomens from eggs within. Description: Very long legged spider with small narrow body.