#4251 · 🕷️ spiders & kin

Cave spider

🇳🇱 Holenspin ·Nesticus cellulanus

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © Maria · CC BY 4.0
2. Drachten, Nederland:© teddydolstra · CC BY-NC 4.0
3. Oldekerk, Nederland:© teddydolstra · CC BY-NC 4.0
4. Opeinde, Nederland:© teddydolstra · CC BY-NC 4.0
5. 9256 HD Ryptsjerk, Nederland:© teddydolstra · CC BY-NC 4.0
6. Tytsjerk, Dorpshuis, 9255 KC Tytsjerk, Nederland:© teddydolstra · CC BY-NC 4.0
7. Nijeholtwolde, Nederland:© teddydolstra · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. Watergraafsmeer , Amsterdam, Netherlands:© Meer Planten · CC BY 4.0
9. Tietjerk, Nederland:© teddydolstra · CC BY-NC 4.0
10. Leeuwarden, Nederland:© teddydolstra · CC BY-NC 4.0

what is it?

Nesticus cellulanus , also known as the cavity spider or comb-footed cellar spider , is a species of scaffold web spider. It is found throughout Europe and Turkey, and has been introduced to North America.

base stats

NL sightings 40iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 801iNaturalist observations

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

Spotted 40 times in the Netherlands on iNaturalist.
801 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by Carl Alexander Clerck in 1758 (268 years ago).

fact sheet

English: Cave spider
Nederlands: Holenspin
scientific name: Nesticus cellulanus
class: Arachnida
order: Araneae
family: Nesticidae
sightings in NL: 40
sightings in Europe: 508
sightings worldwide: 801
GBIF records in NL: 471
weight: —
length: —
lifespan: —
named: 1758 by Carl Alexander Clerck

Sources: iNaturalist taxon 225916, Wikidata Q510385, GBIF 2152911, Wikipedia (EN), Wikipedia (NL). Intro text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.