“Daddy long legs” is a name commonly used for a couple of different creatures in Southern California, most often the harvestman (which isn’t technically a spider at all) or the cellar spider, a true spider with a similar look. Both share the same telltale silhouette: a tiny, pale tan to light brown body, often under 1/4 inch, attached to extremely long, thin, delicate legs that can stretch several times the body’s length. Cellar spiders build loose, messy webs in corners and will vibrate rapidly in place when disturbed, while harvestmen don’t spin webs at all and are usually seen wandering along walls, patios, or plants on their long legs.
In LA and Orange County homes, you’ll typically find them in damp, low-traffic areas: basements, garages, crawl spaces, under sinks, in closets, and along baseboards in corners that don’t get disturbed often. Outdoors, they’re common in leaf litter, mulch, potted plants, under patio furniture, and along shaded exterior walls, especially in yards with irrigation or ground cover that stays moist.
Daddy long legs are considered harmless nuisance pests rather than a safety concern. Harvestmen have no venom glands or fangs capable of biting people at all, and cellar spiders are shy, non-aggressive, and essentially never bite humans under normal circumstances. The main complaint homeowners have is aesthetic — the loose webbing cellar spiders leave in corners and window wells, plus the general “creepy crawly” factor of finding one indoors. A heavier-than-usual population can also be a sign that other small insects they feed on, like gnats or ants, are established nearby.
Guarantee Pest Control has helped Los Angeles and Orange County families manage nuisance pests like daddy long legs since 1958. While they’re not dangerous, we understand nobody wants webs collecting in every corner of the garage or crawl space. Our technicians will inspect your home’s damp, low-traffic areas and recommend a treatment plan to reduce populations and the insects that attract them, with eco-friendly Guarantee Green options available if you prefer a lighter-touch approach. Call 1-800-507-3787 or request a free estimate — backed by our no-penalty cancellation policy and 3-month guarantee on most services.