Spider - Leitz Elmarit 60mm - 8165

Cellar Spider (Daddy-longlegs) - Pholcus phalangioides Family: Pholcidae.

These spiders have very long legs like the harvestman. So often called Daddy-longlegs. The difference between the daddy-longlegs and the harvestman is that in harvestman the cephalothorax and the abdomen is almost fused together which looks like one structure whereas in daddy longleg spiders the cephalothorax and the abdomen are two distinct features connected by a visible narrow tube. Unlike these spiders, the harvestman does not make webs.

The Pholcidae family typically live in houses and buildings. They make their untidy webs in the corner of a wall or a ceiling. They are also often found in the basement or the cellars, thus being referred to by another common name as the cellar spiders. When they are disturbed or when they are under a threat of attack, they start vibrating in their web violently to scare off and discourage their enemy. Therefore, they are also known by yet another common name of vibrating spiders.

Location: Surrey, UK.

Lens: Leica - Leitz Wetzlar Macro-Elmarit-R 1:2.8/60, 60mm F/2.8

Shot settings: F/16, 1/200s, iso 400, camera flash.