Texas is home to lots of spiders and most are not a danger to humans. The only species that are really dangerous are the recluse and the black widow spider. The long bodied cellar spider is an innocent species with long legs that make them appear much bigger than they are. Long bodied cellar spiders have a body that is usually a bit less than 1/3 of an inch. They are pale yellow to light brown or gray in color with legs that are very long, thin and almost translucent. They are also called daddy long legs and referred to Harvestman, which are not spiders at all but are still part of the arachnid class.
Where Do Long Bodied Cellar Spiders Live
These spiders like to live indoors and do very well in areas with higher relative humidity. They can be found in dark, damp places like cellars, basements and crawlspaces. They can also be found in garages and outdoor structures where they will build a web in corners and hang upside down from them. You may notice these spiders bouncing on its own web. This behavior is intended to make a threat or a predator harder to seem them because they become blurry. They will wait for insects to become ensnared in their web. They do not clean their webs but will just add new ones to the existing one. This can cause an extensive web in a short amount of time.
Lifespan of Cellar Spiders
Cellar spiders hatch from eggs. When they hatch, they look like tiny adults and will shed their skin as they grow. Female long bodied cellar spiders will encase their eggs in silk webs to protect them against predators. They become fully grown in about a year and can then live for an additional year or two. Long-bodied cellar spiders have mouth parts that are extremely small, and they aren’t known to bite people. While they are venomous just like 99% of all spiders found in North America, they are not harmful. Their short fangs are just too small to inject any venom.
Cellar Spider Prevention; Home Sealing & More
Spider prevention starts with sealing cracks and crevices on the outside of your home. This is important around windows and doors. Use screens to further prevent entry to your home. Use a broom or vacuum to remove webs, egg sacs and spiders. Reduce their prey with regular pest control services. Insects are attracted to white light sources. Installing yellow light bulbs on the exterior of your home can reduce not only spiders but the insects they eat too. Take steps to lower humidity levels in your home with the use of a dehumidifier or ventilation. Using insecticides can be dangerous and they aren’t very effective with theses spiders anyway. Always contact professional pest management to ensure insecticides are safely and effectively used.
Spider Pest Inspections, Control in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
Long bodied cellar spiders will invoke fear in small insects but should not with humans. They aren’t harmful and can be great at controlling insect pests that no one wants in their homes. If you’d rather not live with them, contact A Five Star Termite & Pest Control for expert extermination.
