Cellar Spiders in Tennessee | Pest ID Guide
Quick Facts About Cellar Spiders
Cellar spiders are common household spiders found throughout Tennessee. Despite their name suggesting they only inhabit cellars, these non-venomous arachnids can be found throughout homes, particularly in areas that mimic cellar-like conditions with darkness and moisture.- Size: Body 1/4 to 3/8 inch with legs extending up to 2 inches
- Color: Pale yellowish to light gray or tan
- Shape: Small oval body with extremely long, thin legs
- Active Season: Year-round, particularly in temperature-controlled indoor environments
- Lifespan: 1-2 years
- Reproduction Rate: Multiple egg sacs per year, 20-30 eggs per sac
What Do Cellar Spiders Look Like?
Cellar spiders are instantly recognizable by their extremely long, delicate legs that can be many times longer than their body. Their bodies are small and oval-shaped, often appearing somewhat translucent. When at rest, they hang upside-down in their loose, irregular webs, with their legs splayed outward, creating a distinctive silhouette unlike most other household spiders.Key Identifying Features
- Extremely Long Legs: Their most distinctive feature, cellar spider legs can be up to six times longer than their body length.
- Two-Part Body Structure: Like all true spiders, cellar spiders have a distinct cephalothorax and abdomen, separating them from harvestmen which have a fused body.
- Web Creation: Cellar spiders build loose, messy webs in corners and secluded areas, often abandoning old webs to build new ones nearby.
- Vibrating Defense: When threatened, these spiders rapidly vibrate in their webs, creating a blur that makes them harder for predators to target.
Related Species
Harvestmen (often incorrectly called daddy longlegs) are commonly confused with cellar spiders. However, harvestmen are not true spiders – they have a single-segment body rather than the two segments of true spiders, cannot produce silk, and lack venom glands. Long-bodied cellar spiders (Pholcus phalangioides) and short-bodied cellar spiders (Spermophora senoculata) are two varieties commonly found in Tennessee homes.
Health & Property Risks
Health Concerns
Cellar spiders pose virtually no health risks to humans.
- Non-Venomous: Despite urban legends, cellar spiders are not dangerous to humans and their fangs are too weak to penetrate human skin.
- Allergen Production: Like other spiders, their shed exoskeletons can contribute to household dust and potentially trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
- Beneficial Predators: They actually help control other pest populations including mosquitoes, flies, and even other spiders.
Property Damage
Cellar spiders cause minimal direct property damage.
- Web Accumulation: Their abundant, messy webs can create unsightly cobwebs in corners, ceilings, and around light fixtures.
- Indicator of Other Issues: Their presence often signals high humidity or moisture problems that may require attention.
- Secondary Pest Indicators: Large populations may indicate the presence of other insects they prey upon.
Where to Look for Cellar Spiders in Your Home
Cellar spiders prefer dark, undisturbed areas with high humidity. They’re commonly found in basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms, garages, utility rooms, and under sinks. Look for their characteristic irregular, loose webs in ceiling corners, behind furniture, around pipes, and near windows or light fixtures where they can catch flying insects.
When to Call Professional Help
While cellar spiders are generally harmless, professional pest control may be warranted when you observe large numbers of these spiders throughout your home, suggesting an underlying insect problem they’re feeding on. If webs become excessive and difficult to manage or if their presence causes significant anxiety for household members, professional intervention can provide more comprehensive control than DIY methods.Schedule a Free Inspection
Our expert technicians at U.S. Pest Protection can identify cellar spider infestations and address not only the spiders themselves but also the underlying conditions and insect populations that attract them. We offer monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly preventative services to keep your Tennessee home free from cellar spiders and other pests.
