Hobo Spiders: Facts, Myths, and Identification

Hobo spiders have long been one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented spider species in North America. Once listed by the CDC as a venomous spider of medical concern, recent research has significantly downgraded their threat level. Here is what the current science says.

Identification

Hobo spiders (Eratigena agrestis) belong to the funnel-web spider family Agelenidae.

• Size: Body length of 11 to 15 mm, with a leg span of 40 to 50 mm.
• Color: Brown with lighter chevron-shaped markings on the abdomen pointing toward the head.
• Body shape: Moderately robust with long, unbanded legs.
• Eyes: Eight eyes in two nearly straight rows.
• Web: Hobo spiders build distinctive funnel-shaped sheet webs in cracks, holes, and at ground level. The funnel narrows into a retreat where the spider waits for prey.

Distinguishing From Brown Recluses

Hobo spiders are frequently confused with brown recluse spiders, but the two species are quite different:

• Brown recluses have six eyes; hobo spiders have eight.
• Brown recluses have a violin marking; hobo spiders have chevron patterns.
• Brown recluses are found in the south-central US; hobo spiders are found in the Pacific Northwest.
• Their ranges do not overlap.

Range and Habitat

Hobo spiders are native to Europe and were introduced to the Pacific Northwest of North America in the early 20th century. Their range includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado, and parts of adjacent states and Canadian provinces.

They are commonly found at ground level in:

• Basements and crawl spaces
• Window wells and foundation gaps
• Garages and storage areas
• Rock walls and landscaping crevices

Hobo spiders are poor climbers and are rarely found above ground level indoors.

Are Hobo Spider Bites Dangerous?

This is where hobo spider history gets complicated. For decades, hobo spiders were considered medically significant based on a few studies from the 1980s and 1990s that suggested their bites could cause necrotic wounds similar to brown recluse bites.

However, more recent and rigorous research has challenged these conclusions:

• The CDC removed hobo spiders from its list of venomous spiders in 2017.
• Studies of hobo spider venom have not found components capable of causing necrosis in humans.
• Necrotic wounds attributed to hobo spider bites in the Pacific Northwest are now thought to have other causes, including bacterial infections.

Current scientific consensus is that hobo spider bites are not medically significant. A bite may cause brief pain and minor redness similar to most non-venomous spider bites, but serious complications are not expected.

Control and Prevention

If hobo spiders are present in your home, the same general strategies used for other spiders apply:

• Seal cracks and gaps at ground level.
• Reduce clutter in basements and garages.
• Use sticky traps along walls to monitor and catch wandering spiders.
• Apply diatomaceous earth in cracks and crevices.
• Keep beds and furniture away from walls.
• Follow our general spider prevention tips.

Living With Hobo Spiders

Since hobo spiders are now understood to be harmless, the approach to managing them can be more relaxed than previously recommended:

• Tolerate them when possible: Hobo spiders are beneficial predators that consume pest insects.
• Relocate rather than kill: Capture wandering hobo spiders in a cup and release them outdoors.
• Focus on exclusion: Sealing ground-level entry points prevents most hobo spiders from entering.
• Manage expectations: In the Pacific Northwest, hobo spiders are extremely common. Complete elimination from a property is unrealistic.

Hobo Spiders vs. Giant House Spiders

In the Pacific Northwest, hobo spiders are often confused with giant house spiders (Eratigena atrica), which are close relatives. Giant house spiders are larger, faster, and have more pronounced markings. Both species build funnel webs and are found in similar locations. Neither species is dangerous.

The simplest way to tell them apart: giant house spiders are noticeably larger (leg span of 70 mm or more) and have distinct banding on their legs. Hobo spiders are smaller with unbanded legs.

For more on spider identification, visit our guide on types of spiders or the complete guide to spiders.

Expert Insights

The hobo spider story is one of the most important lessons in my 15-year pest management career about how misinformation can persist. For years, hobo spiders were listed as dangerous, and I encountered countless misidentifications and unnecessary panic. When the CDC removed hobo spiders from their dangerous species list in 2017, it validated what many of us in the field had suspected — their bite is not medically significant. I still regularly correct this outdated information for clients in the Pacific Northwest. — Sarah Mitchell, BCE

Sources and References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• University of California Riverside Spider Research
• Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
• National Pest Management Association (NPMA)

Main Causes

Hobo spiders (Eratigena agrestis) enter homes in the Pacific Northwest primarily in late summer and autumn when males mature and begin wandering in search of females. They are ground-level hunters that enter through gaps under garage doors, cracks in foundation sills, and unscreened basement windows. Once inside, they establish funnel webs in undisturbed ground-level areas - behind stored items, along wall junctions, and in window wells. They are attracted to the same conditions that attract most ground-dwelling spiders: abundant prey insects, available retreats, and low human disturbance. Properties with heavy ground-level clutter in basements and garages provide ideal harborage. In the Pacific Northwest, hobo spiders are extremely common and essentially impossible to exclude completely from the surrounding environment.

Risk and Severity

Hobo spiders are no longer considered medically significant. The CDC removed them from their list of dangerous spiders in 2017 after multiple studies failed to confirm that their venom causes necrotic lesions. Earlier reports linking hobo spider bites to tissue damage were based on poorly controlled studies and probable misidentification. Current toxicological analysis of hobo spider venom has not found compounds capable of causing necrosis in humans. A bite may produce mild, transient local pain and redness, comparable to most non-venomous spider bites. If you are in the Pacific Northwest and receive an unexplained necrotic wound, bacterial infection (including MRSA) is a far more likely cause than a hobo spider bite, and warrants physician evaluation.

Prevention

Preventing hobo spider entry requires the same ground-level exclusion measures effective against all wandering spiders. Seal gaps along the base of garage doors with heavy rubber seals. Caulk foundation cracks and gaps around basement window frames. Install fitted screens on basement windows and foundation vents. Reduce ground-level clutter in basements and garages by storing items in sealed plastic bins rather than cardboard boxes. Place sticky traps along walls and in corners to monitor activity and intercept wandering individuals. Remove dense vegetation and mulch from against the foundation to eliminate the exterior microhabitat where hobo spiders hunt. These structural and habitat measures reduce indoor encounters without chemical treatment.

How to Identify

Identification matters because risk and control differ significantly by species. Most household spiders — cellar spiders, common house spiders, jumping spiders, wolf spiders — are harmless and beneficial. Two species in North America warrant caution: the black widow with its shiny black abdomen and red hourglass marking, and the brown recluse with its violin-shaped marking and uniform tan-brown coloring without leg banding. Check webs for shape and structure: tangled cobwebs in corners indicate cellar or common house spiders; funnel-shaped webs near ground level indicate funnel-web species; sheet webs across grass are usually grass spiders. Single sightings without webs are usually transient outdoor species and do not indicate an infestation.

Solutions and Actions

For most spider species the goal is removing webs and reducing prey rather than chemical treatment. Vacuum or sweep down all visible webs weekly, including egg sacs, in garages, basements, attics, eaves, and exterior corners. Reduce indoor insect populations by maintaining screens, sealing entry points, and addressing any active pest issue — fewer insects means fewer spiders. Apply a residual insecticide barrier to the foundation perimeter, around windows and doors, and in eaves to deter newly arriving spiders. For confirmed black widow or brown recluse populations in storage areas, use professional pest control, wear long sleeves and gloves when handling stored items, and shake out shoes and clothing left in garages or basements. Single sightings indoors without webs are usually transient and need no chemical response.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are hobo spiders dangerous?

No. Hobo spiders were previously thought to cause necrotic skin lesions, but the CDC removed them from their list of dangerous spiders in 2017 after research failed to confirm this. Hobo spider bites may cause mild local pain and redness but are not considered medically significant.

How do I tell a hobo spider from a brown recluse?

Hobo spiders and brown recluses look quite different upon close inspection. Hobo spiders are found in the Pacific Northwest, while brown recluses live in the south-central US — their ranges do not overlap. Hobo spiders have eight eyes, distinct chevron patterns on the abdomen, and hairy legs. Brown recluses have six eyes, a violin marking, and smooth legs.

Where do hobo spiders live?

Hobo spiders are found primarily in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and parts of surrounding states. They prefer ground-level habitats and build funnel-shaped webs in holes, cracks, and recesses. They commonly enter homes in the fall.

What should I recheck first for hobo spiders?

Recheck the exact place, timing, and repeated signs connected with hobo spiders before changing your plan. A single sighting or old web can mean something very different from fresh activity in several rooms. Confirm whether insects, clutter, moisture, gaps, or stored items are supporting the issue, then match the response to what you actually found.