Hobo spiders have long been a source of confusion and concern for homeowners, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Often mistaken for other spider species, like grass spiders, these arachnids have earned a reputation that isn’t entirely deserved.
In this article, I’ll explore the truth about hobo spiders, from their appearance and habits to the most effective ways to manage them in and around your home.
What Is a Hobo Spider?
Hobo spiders, or Eratigena agrestis, belong to the funnel-web spider family known as Agelenidae. These spiders first made their way to the Pacific Northwest in the 1930s and have since spread across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and neighboring states.
You’ll often find them weaving funnel-shaped webs in outdoor spots such as wood piles, rock crevices, tall grass, retaining walls, and even around house foundations. These webs aren’t just their homes — they also act as hunting grounds. Hobo spiders lie in wait, ready to dart out and catch any unsuspecting prey tangled in their silky traps.
Life Cycle and Habits
If you want to get a handle on hobo spider infestations, it helps to understand their life cycle. Female hobo spiders can live for about two to three years, while males die shortly after mating in late summer. Around September, females lay one to four egg sacs over the course of about four weeks. Most die off in late fall, although a few might survive through the winter. The eggs hatch in the spring, and the whole cycle starts again.
One surprising thing about hobo spiders is that they aren’t great climbers. They have difficulty navigating smooth surfaces like glass, porcelain, and freshly painted walls. This makes it less likely that they’ll find their way into your home through upper-story windows or walls.
Hobo Spider Identification
Identifying hobo spiders challenges even experienced professionals. Look for these key traits:
- Brown coloration
- Long legs
- Fast movement
- Body length under 3/4 inch
- Cephalothorax wider than the abdomen
- Yellowish markings on a gray background (visible only under magnification)
Keep in mind identifying them often requires a microscope. Still, you can rule out hobo spiders with a few visual clues:
- If the spider has dark bands or stripes, it’s not a hobo spider
- Shiny or dark orange legs and cephalothorax indicate a different species
- Leg bands are not characteristic of hobo spiders
Common Misidentifications
Hobo spiders are often mistaken for other spider species because they look ordinary. Some of the most common look-alikes include giant house spiders (Eratigena duellica), grass spiders (Agelenopsis hololena), and barn funnel weavers (Tegenaria domestica).
While they all share some traits with hobo spiders, experts rely on subtle differences to tell them apart. For most homeowners, though, trying to figure out which spider you’re looking at without professional help can feel nearly impossible.
Are Hobo Spiders Dangerous?
Scientists have debated hobo spider toxicity for decades. Early research in the 1970s and 1980s suggested that hobo spider bites could cause necrotic lesions similar to those from brown recluse spiders. However, later studies cast doubt on these findings.
Today, the current scientific consensus is that hobo spiders aren’t as dangerous as previously thought:
- Recent studies haven’t replicated earlier findings of toxicity.
- There are no confirmed reports of hobo spider bites causing significant harm to humans.
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) does not list hobo spiders among venomous spiders of concern in North America.
Although spider bites can cause discomfort or allergic reactions in some people, the evidence doesn’t support the idea that hobo spiders pose a significant risk to human health.
Hobo Spider Habitat and Behavior
Hobo spiders prefer hanging out outdoors, especially in spots where they can spin their funnel-shaped webs. You’ll most often find them in gardens, yards, basements, crawl spaces, or low-level areas of buildings. These spiders are night hunters, coming out to catch insects and other small prey when it’s dark. During the day, they prefer to hide in their webs or nearby shelters, staying out of sight.
While hobo spiders do sometimes make their way into homes, they don’t usually settle in like other spider species. They’re not great climbers, so they rarely get to the upper floors of buildings.
How To Prevent Hobo Spiders
The best way to deal with hobo spiders is to prevent them from getting into your home in the first place. Start by sealing up any entry points. Use weather stripping under doors and seal cracks around windows and your foundation. Outside, cut down on their hiding spots by trimming the grass and clearing away piles of wood, rocks, or other debris near your home. Be smart with your outdoor lighting. Yellow bug lights or sodium vapor lamps help reduce the insects that spiders love to eat. Keep a clear area of about 18 inches around your foundation, free of vegetation and clutter, and install solid door sweeps to stop spiders from sneaking in under your doors.
How To Get Rid of Hobo Spiders
Several methods can address the issue if hobo spiders have already entered your home.
Physical Removal
Start with physical removal methods to defend against hobo spiders. Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of spiders and their webs, making sure you get into corners and crevices. I recommend placing sticky traps in corners and along baseboards to catch lurking spiders. If you prefer a more humane approach, capture and release the spiders outdoors using a glass and a piece of paper. These practical techniques can help keep your home spider-free.
Chemical Control
Many insecticides prove less effective against spiders because their long legs keep their bodies away from treated surfaces. However, some products can be helpful. Apply Delta Dust in cracks and crevices where spiders hide to target them directly. Use a bulb duster for precise application, making sure you reach those hard-to-access areas. Lightly dust existing spider webs to increase exposure and effectiveness.
Professional Pest Control
I recommend consulting a professional pest control service for persistent or severe infestations. This often provides the most effective solution. Experts accurately identify the spider species and develop a targeted treatment plan tailored to your infestation. They also implement long-term prevention strategies to keep your home spider-free. Professional treatments often manage and control spider infestations effectively.
Natural Repellents
Many homeowners prefer natural methods to deter spiders by using essential oils that are known to repel spiders.These natural repellents offer an eco-friendly and less toxic option for managing hobo spiders in your home. For example, in a spray bottle, combine a few drops of peppermint oil with water, then apply it around entry points and spider-prone areas. You can also create a spray using a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water, which proves effective against spiders. Diatomaceous earth is another option. Apply diatomaceous earth around potential entry points and high-traffic areas to create a barrier harmful to spiders. Add these natural methods to your pest management strategy, and you’ll improve the effectiveness of your preventive measures.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) takes a holistic approach to controlling hobo spiders by combining multiple strategies. This method focuses on sustainable and long-term solutions while minimizing reliance on chemical treatments.
Regularly check your home for signs of spider activity and entry points. Use sticky traps to monitor spider populations. Adjust the environment to make it less hospitable to spiders by reducing clutter and moisture levels. Stay informed about hobo spider behaviors and effective control measures. By implementing IPM, you effectively manage hobo spider populations while reducing your impact on the environment.
To keep hobo spiders out, install a solid floor sweep that completely closes the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor. Seal around all the windows if your house has a rough exterior that they can cling to.
Final Thoughts About Hobo Spiders
Hobo spiders often concern homeowners, but current research suggests their dangerous reputation may be undeserved. Like many spider species, these arachnids play a beneficial role in controlling insect populations and generally do not exhibit aggression towards humans.
For those living in areas where hobo spiders are common, focusing on prevention and non-lethal removal methods often proves to be the most effective approach. Homeowners can coexist peacefully with these misunderstood arachnids by sealing entry points, reducing attractive habitats, and using simple removal techniques when necessary while maintaining a comfortable and secure living environment.
