Smeringopus pallidus

Pale daddy-long-leg
Female with eggsac
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Pholcidae
Genus:	Smeringopus
Species:	S. pallidus
Binomial name
Smeringopus pallidus (Blackwall, 1858)

Smeringopus pallidus, known as the pale daddy-long-leg,^[1] is a species of spider of the genus Smeringopus. It is a cosmopolitan species found in many countries.^[2]

Description[]

As in other spiders, male is smaller than female which is 7 mm in average length. The species has a cylindrical and elongate abdomen.^[3] The purple spots along the dorsal surface if the abdomen is the characteristic feature. There is a dark stripe in the ventral surface of sternum. A synanthropic spiders, it builds irregular cobweb in sheltered areas to capture small insects and other spiders for food.^[4] Legs without spines, few vertical hairs can be seen. Female has a simple epigynum without pockets.^[5]

Pale daddy-long-leg with eggs

Male

Habitat[]

Usually found in dusty and dark corners of the house. But also can be seen to build the cobweb under covered drains and on mud walls in gardens and countryside. When disturbed, they hang upside down in the web and vibrate themselves so vigorously to confuse the intruder.^[6]

See also[]

• List of Pholcidae species

References[]

External links[]

• Crossopriza Iyoni and Smeringopus pallidus: cellar spiders new to Florida