Arachnid
Short-bodied Cellar Spider
Physocyclus globosusAlso known as Globe Cellar Spider, Short Cellar Spider
Short-bodied cellar spiders hang upside down in loose, irregular webs tucked into dark corners of buildings, caves, and sheltered structures worldwide. When threatened, they bounce violently in their webs to turn into a blurry motion that confuses potential predators. Their rounded, globe-like abdomens and compact body shapes distinguish them from their longer-bodied pholcid relatives.
SynanthropicNocturnalArachnid
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyFlies, Mosquitoes, Ants
Predators
- Centipedes
- Larger Spiders
- Geckos
ThreatsChemical pest control and human clearing of webs
HabitatsHuman structures, cellars, caves, and dark sheltered spaces
Life span1–3 years
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilyPholcidae
- GenusPhysocyclus
- SpeciesPhysocyclus globosus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Harmless to humans; safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Finding Webs: Look for loose cobwebs near ceilings, dark closets, or garage corners.
- Observing Defense: Gentle air puffs trigger a rapid vibrating motion that blurs the spider.
Close Relative (c) Michael, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Lucas Rubio, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Lucas Rubio · cc-by
Family Member (c) Lucinda Gibson, Museum Victoria, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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