Long-bodied cellar spider - Pholcus phalangioides

Do cellar spiders kill other spiders?

I appreciate the inclusion of a location for this spider. I saw many of these on Cape Cod, and at first I was a little frightened of them, until I read more about them. Now I've moved to Arizona, and I'm seeing similar spiders around my house. The reason why I bring this up is that I've read that cellar spiders actually kill, or keep away, more dangerous spiders like black widows and brown recluses. Is this true? If so, that would be nice. Arizona does seem to have a lot more black widows and brown recluses than other states I've lived in.

… The Casual Exterminator, 6 October, 2007 - 12:59pm

Yes,

they kill insects and other spiders. They are a good house spider to keep around.

… Lynette Schimming, 6 October, 2007 - 2:03pm

Cellar Spider

Not an expert...but this sure looks like a cellar spider (Daddy-long-legs) to me.

… Lynette Schimming, 10 March, 2005 - 7:01am

Cellar spider

After looking up cellar spider, I think this is a Long-bodied cellar spider, Pholcus phalangioides.

… tom murray, 10 March, 2005 - 7:25am

Long-bodied cellar spider

Isn't a "Daddy Long leggs" also a "Harvestman"? I was of the impression that a "Cellar" spider was (or is) closer to a "Nursery" (web) spider then a Daddy Long legs...?
>> Clarification, please. Forgive me, but I'm rather new to this.
Many thanks...

-Nancy

… SpiderLady44, 26 March, 2005 - 10:35pm

Daddy-long-legs

Harvestmen are known as Daddy-long-legs only as a regional common name....not scientific common name. The group of spiders known scientifically as Daddy-long-legs are the cellar spiders. (at least that's how I've come to understand it.) I know it confuses me too. See this discussion here Also see this article or Snopes

… Lynette Schimming, 27 March, 2005 - 6:42am