Okay, maybe that last one isn't so famous. For those bitten by a hobo spider, it is famous (or infamous) enough. Also known as the aggressive house spider, the hobo spider must be popping out of corners, dropping from ceilings, and snacking on artsy types daily as they drink their Grande Lattes. After all, the spider's pseudonym suggests it is both aggressive and home-invading. This deadly combination must be just that, deadly, right?
This article takes a look at the facts and the myths surrounding the hobo spider.
- Myth 1: Hobo Spiders are Transients Who Invade Homes
Hobo spiders are called "hobos" for a reason. They roam the countryside like nomads, jumping on railcars and traversing long distances. They end up everywhere. If one looks close enough, she may be able to see this spider carrying its belongings tied to a stick slung over its shoulder or wistfully jamming on a harmonica.
- Fact: Hobo Spiders Reside in the Pacific Northwest and Avoid Dwellings
Sarcasm aside, hobo spiders are not native to North America. According to spider expert Darwin Vest's website, the spider belongs to the genus Tegenaria. This grouping encompasses "European house spiders, although not all are European, and some do not live in houses." In part, the hobo spider lives up to its transient namesake; it originated in Europe and traveled via trade vessels to North America.
The spider's Latin name is Aranea agrestis, meaning "spider of the field." Per Vest, this nomenclature "was accurate for the species in its indigenous range (western Europe), where the spider lives in fields, woods and rock quarries." There, the hobo occasionally appears in greenhouses, but "it is largely divorced from the human population."
In North America, hobo spiders reside in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Southwestern Canada. Although hobos are found near human habitation, they are not "house" spiders. However, the smaller male may sporadically stray into a dwelling, seeking a mate. Outside, however, they can be found around foundations and underneath rocks and woodpiles, says Vest.
- Myth 2: Hobos and Recluses Cause Gruesome Bites in the Northwest.
When someone is bitten by a spider or insect and the wound is anything more than a raised, itchy bump, fingers often point at the brown recluse spider, a venomous arachnid primarily found in the Central Midwest. Since hobo spiders live in the Northwest, are they the real culprits behind these alleged "spider" bites?
- Fact: Most Spider Bites are from Sac Spiders.
If a spider is to blame, it is likely the yellow sac spider. This spider is found all across North America. Their bites mirror those inflicted by recluses but are much less severe. "Even though brown recluse bites are quite rare these shy spiders are often blamed for bites. Experts believe sac spiders cause more bites than any other type of spider and their bites are often misdiagnosed as brown recluse spider bites."
Hobo spider bites range somewhere between sac spiders and brown recluses. According to Hobospider.com, "50% of Hobo Spider bites are 'dry,' meaning that no venom is injected and nothing happens to the victim . . . [W]hen venom is injected, the victim will experience an immediate redness which develops around the bite then begins to disappear within a few hours." Afterwards, the bite may form a blister.
In Europe, hobos are not considered toxic, and it is debatable whether their North American counterparts can cause serious harm to humans. Some studies show that hobo spider bites can cause skin lesions, while others reveal no toxicity, according to Livingwithbugs.com. In any event, the seriousness of hobo spider bites pale in comparison to those of brown recluse or black widow spiders.
- Myth 3: Hobo Spiders are Aggressive
Hobo spiders are "aggressive house spiders." How could they be docile?
- Fact: Hobo Spiders are not Aggressive.
Agrestis is the Latin word for "of the field," not aggression. But scientists can't very well call a reputed "house spider" an "of-the-field house spider," can they?
According to Vest, the hobo spider is no more aggressive than other wandering spiders. It "does not bite without clear provocation, and certainly does not track people down and attack them." The hobo's quick movements, sometimes toward an approaching human, fuel myths regarding their so-called aggression. The "idea that such spiders are 'attacking' is a misinterpretation." In reality, hobos have poor vision and "cannot distinguish objects more than a foot or two away."
- Myth 4: Hobo Spiders can be Identified by Their Chevron Markings and Boxing Gloves.
- Fact: Some Hobo Spiders can be Identified by Their Chevron Markings and Boxing Gloves. So Can Several Other Species.
More importantly, several other species have similar features to those of hobo spiders. This often leads to misidentification and hysteria, those crediting the hobo for a bite from a knock-off species. Says Vest, "In an instance where a spider has bitten a person, it is imperative to obtain positive identification only from a qualified professional."
- Precautions
Spiders bite in self-defense. This is true even in the case of the misnomered "aggressive house spider." Hobo spiders are funnel web spiders; thus, they generally are found at ground level, residing inside tornado shaped web homes. If disturbed, the spider will likely run, allowing its web home to be swept or hosed away. Further, it is always wise to wear gloves while doing yard work, particularly when moving wood piles, stones, or the webs themselves.
For additional information on North American poisonous spiders, see this author's articles on daddy long-legs, black widow and brown recluse spiders.
Jason Parent - Jason Parent earned his Bachelor's Degree in English in 2000 and his Juris Doctorate in 2006. He currently works as an attorney with a ...
