How to Identify Hobo Spiders

Hobo spiders are venomous, although they are not considered deadly in most instances. These spiders do have some unique characteristics that allow them to be identified and thus avoided.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Good observation skills

1. Check the color and patterns. The hobo spider is mostly brown in color with a herringbone pattern on the upper side of the abdomen.

2. Estimate the size of the spider. The female hobo spider will grow to over 1/2 inch in size, while the male will be slightly smaller.

3. Look for unique characteristics. The male hobo will have what appears to be two boxing gloves in front of its face. These are actually the male genitalia. The female has the same feature, but they are not as noticeable.

4. Observe the web. Hobo spiders build funnel webs that are not sticky. The web will lead down to a tunnel where the spider will hide. There will also be an escape hole at the rear of this tunnel.

5. Know where the spiders are found. In the United States, the hobo spider lives in the Northwest and can extend down as far as Denver. Their range includes southwest Canada as well as much of Europe.

Tips & Warnings

• Hobo spiders are normally non-aggressive except when tending to their eggs.
• The initial bite will not be painful, but a hard area will develop in approximately half an hour, and a blister will form within 24 hours. This bite can be very slow to heal.