S08 · Spider
Daddy Long-Legs Spider
Pholcus phalangioides
The classic cobweb spider in ceiling corners. Harmless to humans and actually preys on redbacks.
- Size
- 7–10 mm body, 50 mm leg-span
- Habitat
- Ceiling corners, under furniture, garages, sheds
- Activity
- Year-round, nocturnal
Overview
The cellar spider (often called daddy long-legs) is a beneficial house spider — it eats other spiders, including redbacks and white-tails. The myth that 'their venom is the most dangerous but their fangs can't pierce skin' is false: their bite is medically insignificant. The messy, tangled webs are the main complaint. If you can tolerate them, leave them — they're free pest control.
How to identify
- Tiny pale grey/tan body (7–10 mm) with extremely long, thin legs
- Hangs upside-down in a loose, irregular web in ceiling corners
- Vibrates rapidly in its web when disturbed (a defensive blur)
- Females often seen carrying a pale ball of eggs in their jaws
Pro Tip
Daddy long-legs eat redbacks. If you can stand the cobwebs, they're doing you a favour.
General guidance only. Information on Home Pest Defence is provided for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice. For termites, venomous spider bites, wasp nests in walls, or protected wildlife, contact a licensed pest controller, your GP, or the relevant state wildlife authority. In emergencies call 000; for poisoning call 13 11 26.