Pholcus manueli

Gertsch, 1937

Manuel's Cellar Spider, cellar spider, daddy longlegs

Pholcus manueli is a cellar ( Pholcidae) to temperate Asia, with established in the United States. The is expanding its range in North America and has been documented in anthropogenic . It exhibits leg as an anti- defense, with autotomy rates in natural populations ranging 5–40%. Unlike some related cellar spiders, P. manueli does not regenerate lost legs. The species has been the subject of research on locomotor performance across inclined substrates.

Pholcus manueli by (c) Matthew Lindsey, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matthew Lindsey. Used under a CC-BY license.

Cellar Spider (Pholcus manueli) - Guelph, Ontario 2017-06-02 (03) by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Pholcus manueli: //ˈfoʊl.kəs ˌmænˈweɪ.li//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Pholcus manueli can be distinguished from the widespread Pholcus phalangioides by examination of ; specimens cannot be reliably identified to . The Pholcus is characterized by eight (not six) and absence of a pit or groove in the . Species-level identification requires microscopic examination and comparison with reference specimens or .

Images

Habitat

Corners of sheltered with three-dimensional microhabitats including caves, basements, outbuildings, and other structures with vertical and overhanging horizontal surfaces. In its North range, it occupies anthropogenic environments.

Distribution

to Russia (Far East), Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, China, Korea, and Japan. to the United States, with records from the Midwest and northeastern U.S.A. (including Nebraska). Established present in North America, Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China), and Southern Asia.

Life Cycle

and stages have been documented in field collections. The does not exhibit leg following .

Behavior

Exhibits leg as an anti- strategy, readily self-amputating legs during encounters with predators and aggressive . Autotomy rates in natural range from 5–40% of individuals. Locomotor performance is affected by both substrate incline and leg loss: speeds decrease with increasing incline (horizontal to 45° to 90°) and following autotomy. Autotomized show greater speed reduction on horizontal surfaces compared to inclines. Partial kinematic compensation occurs—stride length decreases at 90° inclines but not after autotomy, while stride cycle time and duty factor increase after autotomy but not during uphill movement.

Human Relevance

Has been intercepted in commercial merchandise shipments, prompting identification requests for regulatory compliance. Not considered dangerously venomous to humans or pets. Subject of scientific research on locomotor biomechanics and .

Similar Taxa

Pholcus phalangioidesLong-bodied Cellar ; historically the most abundant and widespread Pholcus in North America, but P. manueli is expanding its range and requires examination for reliable separation
Holocnemus plucheiMarbled Cellar ; to Mediterranean Europe, to western North America, distinguished by dome-like web structure and different body patterning

More Details

Research significance

P. manueli has become a model organism for studying the biomechanical consequences of leg in , with experimental studies examining interactive effects of limb loss and substrate angle on locomotor kinematics.

Invasive status

The is documented as in North America, with behavioral variation observed between ; specific behavioral traits and ecological impacts remain under investigation.