Hobo spiders sometimes called aggressive house spiders, are not violent. Unless provoked, hobo spiders prefer to escape and not fight.
Hobo spiders do not chase people, but some people believe so because of their rapid movement. The vision of hobo spiders is quite poor, so a provoked spider may run toward the person without realizing it.
Though hobo spiders are not aggressive, they attack humans only when they are stuck between their skin and other objects or when threatened.
How to identify a hobo spider
Hobo spiders are brown with an average body size that ranges from 10 to 14 mm (females are larger than male spiders).
- Males can be distinguished from females by a small appendage that appears to be swollen.
- Female spiders have bigger abdomens than male spiders.
Sometimes, both male and female hobo spiders may be mistaken for brown recluse spiders due to the presence of a black line on their abdomens.
The main identifying characteristic features of hobo spiders include:
- A unique zigzag (herringbone) pattern is present on the top side of the abdomen.
- Females range in size from 12.7 to 16.9 mm, whereas males range in size from 6.35 to 8.4 mm.
- They have quick darting movements.
- Legs are evenly pigmented and smooth. If there are rings around the legs, it may not be a hobo spider.
- Males have two enormous palps (antenna-like protrusions) between their two front legs that look like boxing gloves. These are frequently misidentified as venom sacs, but they are male genitalia.
Hobo spiders create funnel webs, which have a funnel-like cave at the back where the spider hides and waits for victims. Unlike other spider webs, hobo spider webs are not sticky; the prey becomes entangled in the web, allowing the spider to attack it before it can flee.
What happens when a hobo spider bites you?
Earlier, it was believed that the venom of hobo spiders is toxic to humans, but recent studies showed that they are not life-threatening. However, they may cause a few unpleasant symptoms, such as:
- Severe headache
- Extreme nausea
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Temporary memory loss
- Vision impairment
When a hobo spider bites a person, redness appears quickly surrounding the bite. This normally fades within a few hours, leaving a mark mimicking a mosquito bite.
- The bite develops into a blister and bursts open within 24 to 48 hours, leaving open, bleeding ulceration.
- If the lesion is left exposed, a scab forms, giving a lesion that looks like a target and bullseye.
- Later the scab sheds off, and the lesion usually heals leaving a scar within 45 days of the original bite.
- In extreme situations, particularly when the bite occurs in a region of fatty tissue, lesions can develop deep and widespread, taking two to three years to recover.
The hobo spider bite may be dangerous in the following populations:
- The children (especially younger than five years)
- Elderly
- Those with uncontrolled diabetes
- Those with a tendency for allergies
In rare instances, the spider bite may cause an anaphylactic reaction that may cause breathlessness, general body edema, and shutting down of airways, resulting in death.
QUESTION
See AnswerHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
Big Time Pest Control. 8 Hobo Spider Facts. https://www.bigtimepestcontrol.com/blog/8-facts-you-should-know-about-hobo-spiders
The Burke Museum. Myth: How to recognize hobo spiders. https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/arachnology-and-entomology/spider-myths/myth-how-recognize-hobo
Top Do Hobo Spiders Chase You Related Articles
Brown Recluse Spider Bite Picture
The brown recluse spider, also known as the violin spider, is most commonly found in the Midwestern and southern states of the United States. It is brown in color with a characteristic dark violin-shaped (or fiddle-shaped) marking on its head and has six equal-sized eyes (most spiders have eight eyes). Brown recluse spiders are usually found in workplaces with secluded, dry, sheltered areas such as underneath structures logs, or in piles of rocks or leaves. If a brown recluse spider wanders indoors, they may be found in dark closets, shoes, or attics. The brown recluse spider cannot bite humans without some form of counter pressure, for example, through unintentional contact that traps the spider against the skin. Bites may cause a stinging sensation with localized pain. A small white blister usually develops at the site of the bite. The venom of a brown recluse can cause a severe lesion by destroying skin tissue (skin necrosis). This skin lesion will require professional medical attention.Spider Bites: How to Identify
Do you know what a spider bite looks like? Which spider bites can be fatal? How long does it take to recover from a spider bite? How does spider bite venom work? How do you treat a brown recluse spider bite? How long do spider bites last? Learn about spider bite swelling, treatment, blisters, rash, and symptoms.How To Tell the Difference Between a Spider Bite and a Mosquito Bite
Learn how tell the difference between a spider bite and a mosquito bite and how to care for each.First Aid: Why You Need a First Aid Kit and CPR
First aid is providing medical assistance to someone a sick or injured person. The type of first aid depends on their condition. Preparedness is key to first aid, like having basic medical emergency kits in your home, car, boat, or RV. Many minor injuries may require first aid, including cuts, puncture wounds, sprains, strains, and nosebleeds. Examples of more critical first aid emergencies include heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and heatstroke.How Do You Get Rid of Spider Mites Naturally?
Spider mites are small insects that infect garden plants. They live on the undersides of the plant leaves where they may spin protective silk webs. They cause plant damage by puncturing the plant cells to feed. Their webs are super fine and spread densely over leaves and stem without the classical geometric form.How Do You Keep Spiders Out of Your House?
Spiders are one of the most dreaded pests seen in our homes. Fear of spiders or arachnophobia has been ranked as one of the greatest phobias, along with fear of snakes, heights, and public speaking. However, spiders on a whole aren’t that dangerous. Spiders mainly use their fangs to inject venom into the prey.How Do You Know if You Have Been Bitten By a Spider?
What is a spider bite? Learn the signs of a spider bite and what to do if you've been bitten by a spider.Is a Banana Spider Bite Poisonous?
The banana spider is also known as the calico spider, golden silk spider, giant wood spider, Brazilian wandering spider or armed spider. Banana spiders do bite humans and they are poisonous.Is the Hobo Spider Poisonous?
The hobo spider bites when they feel threatened. This species is frequently confused with other species of spiders, especially the brown recluse spider. The misinformation on hobo spiders is so prevalent that it was previously thought that they can produce necrotic lesions similar to that caused by brown recluse spiders.Spider Bites (Black Widow and Brown Recluse)
Most spiders in the United States are harmless; however, black widow and brown recluse spider bites may need medical treatment. Symptoms of a harmless spider bite generally include pain, redness, and irritation.
Signs and symptoms of a black widow spider bite include pain immediately, redness, burning, and swelling at the site of the bite. Sometimes the person will feel a pinprick or double fang marks.
Brown recluse spider bite symptoms and signs are a mild sting, followed by severe pain and local redness. These symptoms usually develop within eight hours or more after the bite. Black widow and brown recluse spider bites have similar symptoms, for example, nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, and abdominal or joint pain.
Generally, brown recluse and black widow spider bites need immediate medical treatment. If you think that you or someone you know has been bitten by a brown recluse or black widow spider, go to your nearest Urgent Care or Emergency Department for medical treatment.
What Do Spider Bites Look Like?
The appearance of a spider bite varies depending on the type of spider causing the bite. Spider bites often take longer to heal than other insect bites.When Should You Go To the Doctor for a Spider Bite?
Learn what medical treatments can help with your spider bite symptoms and speed up your spider bite recovery.