Pholcidae
(Cellar Spiders)

Picture ID 54996

Picture of Pholcidae (Cellar Spiders)

Comments & ID Thoughts

This a very, very common house spider in South Africa. They usually build webs in quiet corners of houses where they won't be disturbed, like the corners of ceiling, and under fridges. In fact as I type this there's another one under my fridge.

I can't imagine they're aggressive. I doubt I've ever seen one move let alone attack/defend itself.

They're very common throughout the country. I've lived in areas along the coast of the country and these little guys have always been around.

If I had to name this, it would be the Common House Spider, but I quick google of the spiders around South Africa proved me wrong.

I'd appreciate it if anyone could tell me what it is!

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CalumEwing

It is one of the Cellar Spiders in the family Pholcidae. The Long-bodied Cellar Spider, Pholcus phalangioides, is cosmopolitan in distribution and often found in homes and other buildings.

TangledWeb

No, they aren’t aggressive. I live in USA and have many in my house. A Steatoda triangulosa ate several of them. I recently observed a couple of Pholcus phalangiodes touching each other’s legs in a mating ritual. The legs were moving wildly. I also saw that spiderlings do the same spinning and web shaking that the adults do to scare a predator.

Additional Pictures

Picture of Pholcidae (Cellar Spiders) - Dorsal Enlarge Picture
Picture of Pholcidae (Cellar Spiders) Enlarge Picture
Picture of Pholcidae (Cellar Spiders) - Dorsal Enlarge Picture
Picture of Pholcidae (Cellar Spiders) Enlarge Picture