Home / Cellar Spiders / Marbled Cellar Spider (Holocnemus pluchei)

Marbled Cellar Spider (Holocnemus pluchei)

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.

Scientific Classification

  • Family: Cellar Spiders
  • Genus: Holocnemus
  • Scientific name: Holocnemus pluchei

Marbled Cellar Spider

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

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.

Eggs

Female spiders lay approximately 200 eggs in a sac, taking about three weeks before hatching.

Spiderlings

After hatching, the female leaves the spiderlings, who construct their own sheet web to capture prey or join an existing one.

The Web

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.

Is the Marbled Cellar Spider Venomous

They are venomous but are not dangerous to humans. This is because their fangs are incapable of delivering a powerful bite.

Quick Facts

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

Did You Know

  • Italian naturalist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli first described this species in 1763.
  • Both the male and female members possess stridulatory organs and use them in sexual activity. This is uncommon as in most spiders, only the male has these organs.

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

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

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.

Eggs

Female spiders lay approximately 200 eggs in a sac, taking about three weeks before hatching.

Spiderlings

After hatching, the female leaves the spiderlings, who construct their own sheet web to capture prey or join an existing one.

The Web

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.

Is the Marbled Cellar Spider Venomous

They are venomous but are not dangerous to humans. This is because their fangs are incapable of delivering a powerful bite.

Quick Facts

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

Did You Know

  • Italian naturalist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli first described this species in 1763.
  • Both the male and female members possess stridulatory organs and use them in sexual activity. This is uncommon as in most spiders, only the male has these organs.

Image Source: bugguide.net

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