The fastest useful split
Cellar spiders suspend loose three-dimensional webs in open corners; clothes moth larvae keep silk against fibers, cases and feeding damage in dark storage.
Do not rely on a single color match. Start with scale and physical form, then check where the sign accumulates and whether a companion clue supports one candidate over the other.
| Feature | Cellar spider | Clothes moth |
|---|---|---|
| Placement | Open ceiling, joist or corner | Against wool, fur, felt or stored textile |
| Architecture | Loose irregular web spanning space | Tubes, cases or flat silk bound to fibers |
| Companion clue | Spider, prey remains or dust-hung web | Grazed fibers, holes, pellets or larval cases |
| Light exposure | Quiet exposed corner can fit | Dark undisturbed storage fits better |
Trace whether the silk spans open air or remains attached to damaged animal-based fiber.
Avoid pesticide fogging; preserve a specimen or silk sample only when it can be collected without contamination.
Open safety guidanceCheck each full evidence profile
Cellar spider
Pholcidae
Loose three-dimensional web with a very small body, extremely long legs and wrapped prey remains.
Clothes moth
Tineola bisselliella and Tinea pellionella
Smooth pale larvae, attached silk cases or webbing and clipped natural fibers in dark garment folds.
Why a visual match can fail
Scale can be distorted by a close-up photograph, loose material may be moved by cleaning or airflow, and old evidence can change color or texture. A reliable conclusion uses multiple observations that point in the same direction and preserves contradictory details instead of forcing a match.