The marbled cellar spider is a member of the family of cellar spiders, often colloquially referred to as “daddy-long-legs.” It is commonly seen in households, mostly near attics, roof eaves, and basements, where it builds its webs.
Marbled Cellar Spider
Size: Male: 0.5–0.7 cm Female: 0.5-0.75 cm
Color: They are grey or tan in color.
Other Characteristic Features: They have long legs covered with black and white tan circles at the joints.
Female spiders lay approximately 200 eggs in a sac, taking about three weeks before hatching.
After hatching, the female leaves the spiderlings, who construct their own sheet web to capture prey or join an existing one.
These spiders have a unique webbing behavior. Some weave solitary webs, while the majority of the marbled cellar spider species join the existing webs made by other spiders of their clan. Most of them shift to new webs several times in their lifetime.
They build two types of webs – curved prey-capture sheets and dome-shaped webs. The latter is used by females carrying eggs to give birth safely.
They are venomous but are not dangerous to humans. This is because their fangs are incapable of delivering a powerful bite.
| Lifespan | 1-3 years |
| Distribution | Native: Mediterranean area of Europe and Northern Africa
Invasive: North Pacific region of the United States |
| Habitat | Basement areas, caves, rocky crevices, and warm terrains |
| Common Predators | Jumping spiders |
| Diet | Damselflies, fruit flies, and houseflies |
Image Source: bugguide.net
The marbled cellar spider is a member of the family of cellar spiders, often colloquially referred to as “daddy-long-legs.” It is commonly seen in households, mostly near attics, roof eaves, and basements, where it builds its webs.
Marbled Cellar Spider
Size: Male: 0.5–0.7 cm Female: 0.5-0.75 cm
Color: They are grey or tan in color.
Other Characteristic Features: They have long legs covered with black and white tan circles at the joints.
Female spiders lay approximately 200 eggs in a sac, taking about three weeks before hatching.
After hatching, the female leaves the spiderlings, who construct their own sheet web to capture prey or join an existing one.
These spiders have a unique webbing behavior. Some weave solitary webs, while the majority of the marbled cellar spider species join the existing webs made by other spiders of their clan. Most of them shift to new webs several times in their lifetime.
They build two types of webs – curved prey-capture sheets and dome-shaped webs. The latter is used by females carrying eggs to give birth safely.
They are venomous but are not dangerous to humans. This is because their fangs are incapable of delivering a powerful bite.
| Lifespan | 1-3 years |
| Distribution | Native: Mediterranean area of Europe and Northern Africa
Invasive: North Pacific region of the United States |
| Habitat | Basement areas, caves, rocky crevices, and warm terrains |
| Common Predators | Jumping spiders |
| Diet | Damselflies, fruit flies, and houseflies |
Image Source: bugguide.net
