If you are dealing with hobo spiders, contact your local spider exterminators.
If you suspect you have been bitten and are concerned about any skin reaction, see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. The adult hobo spider is a moderately large (12-18mm body length) brown spider, with long, unmarked legs (legs included, a typical specimen. Unlike other spiders that have been shown to cause this condition, hobo spider venom is not considered toxic to humans according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is no longer believed that hobo spider bites cause tissue damage or skin death (necrosis). Hobo spiders rarely bite people, and when they do bite, their bite is almost painless. Hobo Spider Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers Although some have been observed a few feet above floor level, most hobo spiders are seen running about on the floor or in webs close to the ground or vegetation. For years it was considered a seriously poisonous spider, joining the black widow and brown recluse as one of three dangerous spider species found in the U.S. Hobo spiders are not aggressive however, they will bite when pressed against the skin. The body length of a hobo spider is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long with a leg span of about 1-2 inches. These spiders are not good climbers, however, they will sometimes be found in tubs and sinks. It is often called the Aggressive House Spider, which is not really an accurate description, as the spider is not truly. The hobo spider (Eratigena agrestis) is a small brown spider that can be found in the Northwest U.S. Long legs, a brown body, and a grayish abdomen with yellowish markings are typical of many types of spiders. Indoors, the hobo spider is typically found running across the floor or near the floor level. Hobo Spider HabitatĬommon outdoor habitats for the hobo spider include rock retaining walls, landscape rocks, cracks in soil or concrete, vegetation, near and around foundations, window wells, irrigation boxes, stacks of lumber, firewood, and bricks. Adult hobo spiders are smaller than brown recluses with shorter legs and are trap spiders, rather than hunters. They’re not native to the US, and have brownish yellow markings along their otherwise brown bodies.
They can move rapidly, up to three feet per second, when moving from place to place, but are not very good at climbing. Hobo spiders tend to have a more limited range, being found mostly from Montana to the Pacific Northwest and south only as far as Utah.
The hobo spider belongs to the funnel-web spider family, and constructs funnel or tube-shaped areas out of their silk to hide in. A hobo spider is a common type of spider found in Mid-South TN The hobo spider received its name from the fact that it’s often found along railroad tracks.