Hobo Spider

The Hobo Spider

Hobo Spider. By Judgeking – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Hobo spiders are a member of a genus of spiders known as funnel web spiders. There is a great debate prevailing over these spiders being venomous, but a new study has suggested that the hobo spider is not toxic at all.

HOW TO IDENTIFY HOBO SPIDERS

Hobo spiders have a brown front body, and brown legs attached to it. Darker stripes or marks can be noticed on close observation. Hobo spiders are usually smaller than other spiders. The male hobo spider is about 7-14mm and the female is about 9-18 mm in size.

Appearance, Behavior, and Signs

Hobo spiders have an oblong abdomen with longer posterior spinnerets. They have eight legs and no antennae. Female hobo spiders are a little bigger in size than the male ones. They are light to medium brown in color and have stripes of darker shades on their bodies, and their legs are light brown with no stripes or markings.

Hobo spiders are known for funnel webs with two ends. One end with a broad opening into a slightly curved sheet. And the other end with an escape tunnel running up to a more covered and protected space, like a deep crack. These spiders bite in defense but there is a great debate prevailing over whether these pests can be toxic or not. This species is often confused with the other ones, so a conclusion has not been reached yet. However, for now, the thought is that hobo spider bite can cause mild pain and irritation.

The signs of a hobo spider infestation are quite obvious: seeing these pests more often than usual, and funnel webs in or around your house.

HOW DO YOU GET HOBO SPIDERS

Hobo spiders prefer dark, damp habitats, so they are commonly found in garages or basements. Male hobo spiders might infest your place looking for a mate. Hobo spiders, just like all other spiders, could crawl into your house through cracks or crevices in the windows and make nesting spots in your home.

HOW TO GET RID OF HOBO SPIDERS

The Hobo spider can cause a nuisance by building webs around your house. They also attract other pests such as ants, wasps, and some other spiders. The following ways can help to get rid of hobo spiders or to keep them away from your house:

• Remove the sources of food for hobo spiders inside your house. They feed on many insects and not removing those insects is just like an invitation to hobo spiders.
• Place hobo spider traps near places where you see funnel webs or hobo spiders. They get stuck in the sticky traps very easily.
• Sprinkle pesticide powder near the nesting spots of hobo spiders. Choose the powder made for hobo spiders and follow the instructions given on it.
• Vacuum up their webs and throw them outside of your house immediately when finished so they cannot crawl back into your house.
• Use a broom to wipe away the spiders and their webs. Kill them by squashing them with an object or let them go down the street.

Hobo Spider Facts

• Spiders have blue blood since they have hemocyanin instead of hemoglobin.
• They eat more insects than total combined by bats and birds.
• They have an oily substance on their bodies that keeps them from getting stuck in their own web.