''Smeringopus pallidus'', known as the pale daddy-long-leg, is a species of
spider
Spiders (order (biology), order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight limbs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude spider silk, silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and ran ...
of the genus ''
Smeringopus'', family
Pholcidae. It is a cosmopolitan species found in many countries.
Description
This species has a body length up to 7 mm, with males being smaller than females.
It has a cylindrical and elongate abdomen. The purple spots along the dorsal surface of the abdomen are a characteristic feature. There is a dark stripe on the ventral surface of the
sternum
The sternum (: sternums or sterna) or breastbone is a long flat bone located in the central part of the chest. It connects to the ribs via cartilage and forms the front of the rib cage, thus helping to protect the heart, lungs, and major bl ...
. A
synanthropic spider, it builds irregular cobwebs in sheltered areas to capture small insects and other spiders for food.
The legs lack spines and have a few vertical hairs. The female has a simple
epigynum without pockets.
Habitat
''Smeringopus pallidus'' can be found in dusty and dark corners of the house. They also build their webs under covered drains and on mud walls in gardens and the countryside. When disturbed, they hang upside down in the web and vibrate themselves vigorously to confuse the intruder.
See also
*
List of Pholcidae species
This page lists all described genera and species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reprod ...
References
External links
Crossopriza Iyoni and Smeringopus pallidus: cellar spiders new to Florida
Spiders described in 1858
Pholcidae
Cosmopolitan spiders
{{Pholcidae-stub