Hobo Spiders are brown and measure roughly 12 to 18 mm in length. Their legs show no distinct rings and have short hairs. Their abdomens have several chevron shaped markings. Males are distinctively different from females in that they have two large palps that look like boxing gloves. These palps are often mistaken for fangs or venom sacs, but they are in fact the male genitalia. The females also have these palps, but the ends are not 'swollen' as they are on the males.

They can be found anywhere in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado,and Southern British Columbia. We feel that it is likely that there are Hobos in Northern California. We have also received spider samples from the many parts of Mid-West and North Eastern USA which appear to be Hobo spiders. The Red areas of the maps show regions with Hobo Spiders. See similar questions...

To the left is a picture of a Hobo Spider bite. About 50% of Hobo Spider bites are 'dry,' meaning that no venom is injected, and nothing happens to the victim. Often times the victim does not even realize that he has been bit. See similar questions...

There are 3 major predator spider types that if found in homes seem to reduce the amount of Hobo spiders: the Steatoda spiders, Large jumping spiders, and the other harmless European House spiders. Pets such as cats will feed on Hobo and Brown Recluse spiders after playing with them. The preying mantis will also eat Hobo spiders but due to its day time activity and the Hobo spiders night time activity optimum results are not achieved. See similar questions...

Yes and no. The giant house spider and the domestic or common house spider are both cousins to the Hobo spider and look very similar with obvious differences. The domestic house (Tegenaria domestica) spider is smaller than the Hobo spider and has distinct rings on its legs but it does have similar V shapes on it's abdomen. See similar questions...

To the left is a picture of a Hobo Spider bite. Brown Recluse bites are the same. About 50% of bites are 'dry,' meaning that no venom is injected, and nothing happens to the victim. Often times the victim does not even realize that he has been bit. See similar questions...

A Brown Recluse is a relatively rare, poisonous spider that lives in the Midwest US. The following collection of links deal specifically with the habits and behaviours of the Brown Recluse. This site collects information on brown recluse spider bites and tracks information about them. There is a searchable database containing information on treatments, bite location, bite severity and regional distribution. See similar questions...

First, it is unlikely that you will find a brown recluse spider in your home since they are not known to occur in Oregon. Brown recluse spiders live in the south central Midwest from Nebraska to Ohio and south through Texas to Georgia. However, you may find a hobo spider, giant house spider, or European house spider in your home. These three spiders are related and they look very similar. See similar questions...

There are 3 major predator spider types that if found in homes seem to reduce the amount of Hobo spiders. These spiders are the Steatoda spiders, Large jumping spiders, and the other harmless European House spiders. We are working on getting some pictures on our web site but have not accomplished that yet. The preying mantis will also eat Hobo spiders but due to its day time activity and the Hobo spiders night time activity optimum results are not achieved. See similar questions...

In order to kill Hobo spiders with pesticides you usually have to hit the spider directly with large doses. The problem with non discriminate spraying is that you kill the good competitor and predator spiders and insects and thus make more room for the more mobile and hardy Hobo spider. This will often lead to a worse problem with Hobo spiders as I witnessed in 1997 in my own home. See similar questions...

Yes, they definitely can. They are not good climbers and usually fall back to the floor after climbing too high. See similar questions...

No. People often wonder if that's how they get in their bath tubs but as I explained in the question before this one it is not true. See similar questions...

No, all spiders have palps and male spiders have swollen palps. What the swollen palps indicate is that it is a male Hobo spider. Females have them as well but they are not swollen. See similar questions...

We are not sure yet. Many people say that they have them and even one person said they took it to a county agent and had it identified as a Hobo spider but we have not been able to verify it yet. Therefore we can not say that Hobos are there for sure, although it makes sense that they would live there, too. Here is a list of areas that we feel confident that there are Hobo Spiders: Anywhere in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Southern British Columbia. See similar questions...

Absolutely not, often Hobo spiders are found in bath tubs, etc. The reason they are found there is that they crawled up the sides, fell in and can't get out because of the slick surfaces. See similar questions...

If you live in San Diego it is highly unlikely that you've been bitten by a Brown Recluse Spider because they do not occur here. Refer to this map (prepared by UC Riverside specialists) that shows where they might occur. For more information on these spiders visit the spider information pages by UC Riverside researchers. See similar questions...

Male Hobos are the most dangerous and baby Hobo spiders carry the most potent venom but they can't expel as much as adults. All of the Hobo spiders are dangerous and should be avoided. See similar questions...