Species Smeringopus pallidus

Pale Daddy-Long-Leg

See the World Spider Catalog.

Pholcus elongatus (type species)

Smeringopus means "hairyfoot" (from the Greek nouns), but there is nothing in Simon's description of the genus which seems to warrant this name, nor is there anything in Vinson's original description of the type species Pholcus elongatus Vinson 1863.(1)

Body length is roughly 7mm or less (males smaller than females).

Abdomen mostly cylindrical and elongate. The color pattern of paired purplish spots the entire length of the top and sides of the abdomen can usually distinguish this species from other similar synanthropic pholcids. Carapace has a brown pit-like median depression, two pair of brown spots, an irregular submarginal band, and two vertical stripes on the face. Underside of sternum has a dark stripe. Legs have white rings.(2)

Female found in Florida:

Introduced to Texas & Florida so far.(3)

Mostly synanthropic. Builds irregular cobweb in sheltered areas.

Adults probably present year-round in warmer climates.

Insects & other spiders.

Eggs are bundled with a few strands of silk and carried in mother's jaws until they hatch.

Introduced from Asia, recently.

Pholcus phalangioides (similar body shape)

Holocnemus pluchei (similar body shape)

(2)Edwards, G.B., 1993c. Crossopriza lyoni and Smeringopus pallidus: cellar spiders new to Florida (Araneae: Pholcidae). Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Entomology Circular, No. 361:1-2. [pdf available from here]