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ISM System :Illinois Spider Collection
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Cellar Spider (Pholcus phalangioides)
Description: This pale yellowish gray spider has very long threadlike legs. The cephalothorax is nearly round, and the abdomen is elongated. Because of their long legs they are sometimes confused with harvestmen (daddy longlegs). The body length for females ranges from 7-8 mm and 6-7mm for males.

Habitat: This spider is commonly found in houses. They construct their webs in areas where light is subdued, such as basements and darkened corners of rooms. In natural conditions it lives in caves and beneath overhanging banks. The spider usually hangs beneath the irregular maze of silk strands that form its web.

Photograph by Everett Cashatt, ISM
Accession #:

Cellar Spider (<i>Pholcus phalangioides</i>)

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