Cellar Spider

Cellar spiders are one of the most ubiquitous spiders found in and around homes throughout North America.  They have long, thin legs and hang upside down from flimsy webs.  They are often referred to as daddy-long-legs.  One must be aware, however, this is a different creature than a daddy or granddaddy-long-leg, which belong to another distinct grouping of arachnids. 

The most common and widespread species is the long-bodied cellar spider. It has an elongate tannish-gray abdomen with no other markings.  It also has a darkened pattern around the eyes that is frequently mistaken for the violin of a brown recluse, causing it to be misidentified, leading to unnecessary concern. 

Cellar spiders are commonly found in the semi-subterranean basements of homes where they leave unsightly cobwebs in corners and by windows.  They can also be found under outdoor porch eaves, in corners inside the house and under outdoor porch overhangs.  These spiders cause no appreciable damage, but they do make aesthetically unsightly webs.