Are Cellar Spiders Good?

Just as their name implies, cellar spiders are often found in damp cellars, crawl spaces, and basements. Cell spiders can be identified by their long legs and are often confused with daddy-longlegs. However, cellar spiders are pretty common, and there are about 20 cellar spider species located in the United States and Canada.
And let’s get right to the answer to your question – are cellar spiders good? Though many people don’t like spiders and their creepy-crawly nature, the truth is that many spiders are beneficial to our environment. It’s no different with cellar spiders as they eat insects and even spiders that are larger than themselves. So, if you have cellar spiders in your house, there is a good chance that you won’t find any other spiders, or other small insects, in your house.

cellar spider showing mandibles

Are cellar spiders venomous?

Cellar spiders are not venomous, nor are they poisonous. Further, cellar spiders aren’t known to cause harm to humans as they don’t bite. But for whatever reason, there seems to be an urban legend out there that the venom of the cellar spider is not only venomous but some of the most dangerous spider venom there is. There is simply no proof that confirms this belief, however. And quite frankly, the short length of the cellar spider’s fangs makes it nearly impossible for them to render a venomous bite.

How Do You Control Cellar Spiders?

Even though cellar spiders do good things for us, we don’t necessarily want them around. If you’re going to try to control cellar spiders, there are some tips- below for you to follow.

  • Use a vacuum or broom to remove evidence of spiders in your home such as webs, egg sacs, or the spiders themselves.
  • Ensure your home is properly ventilated and use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture.
  • Seal cracks in your home, particularly around doors, windows, or other entry points.
  • Replace exterior white lights with a less attractive yellow or sodium vapor lamp. Though it might be less aesthetically pleasing, this strategy helps reduce the number of spiders as insects don’t like the yellow light.
  • Get rid of spider food sources through prevention and control measures. One of the easiest ways to do this is to hire a professional pest control service that is well-versed in dealing with pesky insects. And before using any insecticide on your own, it’s best to reach out to a pest control specialist. Professionals can provide guidance and insight on what to use and how much. Perhaps more importantly, they can provide insight into potential dangers associated with the use of such products.

Let Omnis Pest Control Help You Mitigate Your Cellar Spider Problem

If you have cellar spiders in or near the Castle Rock, Colorado area, Omnis Pest Control can help. The experts at Omnis Pest Control will identify and confirm the type of spider infesting your home. Next, we will work with you to create a spider control plan. We will install spider traps and use appropriate pesticides to eliminate the existing spider problem. Further, we’ll take preventive measures to keep new spiders from making their way into your home.

And though you may be convinced that you have a cellar spider, it never hurts to get a second opinion. Though cellar spiders are not dangerous to humans, other spiders are. In fact, cellar spiders are often confused with daddy-long-legs spiders, but they are also confused with the brown recluse spider. And the brown recluse spider is very poisonous and causes quite a bit of damage despite its small size. The best way to ensure that you and your family are not subject to a potentially dangerous spider is to have the professionals come out and take a look.

cellar spider on wet leaf

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