The hobo spider (Eratigena agrestis) is a brown, fast-moving funnel-weaver best known for a frightening reputation that scientific evidence does not support. Although it was once blamed for serious skin wounds in the Pacific Northwest, researchers have found no convincing evidence that its venom causes tissue necrosis in humans. Most encounters involve a spider trying to escape, not attack.
This guide explains how big hobo spiders get, how to recognize possible look-alikes, where they live, what their webs look like, and what to do if you suspect a bite.
Hobo Spider: Quick Facts
| Scientific name | Eratigena agrestis (formerly Tegenaria agrestis) |
|---|---|
| Family | Agelenidae (funnel-weaver spiders) |
| Adult body length | Female: about 9.5–16.5 mm; male: about 7–13.5 mm, excluding legs |
| Appearance | Brown body, long legs, and often faint chevron markings on the abdomen |
| Typical habitat | Sheltered ground-level spaces, rock and wood piles, foundation gaps, and sometimes basements |
| Food | Insects and other small arthropods caught near the web |
| Human bite risk | Low; no convincing evidence of venom-induced skin necrosis |
How to Identify a Hobo Spider
A hobo spider has the general appearance of a brown funnel-weaver: a relatively long-legged body, a patterned abdomen, and the ability to run quickly across the ground. Its front body section (cephalothorax) is brown with darker markings. The abdomen can show pale or yellowish chevrons, but these markings may be indistinct.
The legs usually lack the bold dark rings seen on certain other house spiders. Adult males also have enlarged pedipalps near their mouthparts. These paired structures can resemble tiny boxing gloves; they are reproductive organs, not fangs or venom sacs.
Important: Color, leg pattern, body size, and even web shape cannot positively identify this species. Closely related spiders look remarkably similar. Reliable species-level identification often requires a specialist to examine reproductive anatomy under magnification. See our spider identification guide for a broader approach to identifying unfamiliar spiders.
How Big Is a Hobo Spider?
Adult females typically measure about 9.5–16.5 mm (0.37–0.65 in.) in body length. Adult males measure approximately 7–13.5 mm (0.28–0.53 in.). These measurements exclude the legs, which make the spider appear considerably larger.
Females commonly have a fuller abdomen, while males often look slimmer and spend more time wandering during the mating season. An individual spider may appear larger or smaller depending on age, posture, and the angle of a photograph.
Hobo Spider vs. Giant House Spider, Grass Spider, and Wolf Spider
Misidentification is common, particularly in areas where several brown spiders share the same habitat. The following comparisons are useful clues, not definitive tests.
| Spider | Typical clue | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Hobo spider Eratigena agrestis | Brown funnel-weaver; usually found around sheltered ground-level areas | Very difficult to confirm by color or pattern |
| Giant house spider Eratigena species | Often conspicuously long-legged; another common house-associated funnel-weaver | Closely related, with substantial overlap in appearance |
| Grass spider Agelenopsis species | Often sits in a visible sheet-and-funnel web in lawns or vegetation | Web and abdominal patterns can resemble those of other funnel-weavers |
| Wolf spider Family Lycosidae | Usually hunts on foot instead of waiting in a capture web | Many species are brown, fast-moving, and similar in general outline |
If you find a large brown spider indoors, compare its location, web, body proportions, and local geographic range. Our guide to common house spiders in North America explains why many indoor spiders are mistaken for one another.
Where Do Hobo Spiders Live?
Hobo spiders are native to Europe and were recorded in the Pacific Northwest of North America by the 1930s. Established populations occur in parts of the northwestern United States and adjacent regions of western Canada, including areas of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and northern Utah. Their exact local distribution varies, so a sighting should not be assumed solely because a spider is brown and fast.
In places outside the documented range, identification is particularly uncertain. For example, the University of California’s integrated pest management program does not recognize an established hobo spider population in California and advises against labeling common local funnel-weavers as hobo spiders without expert verification.
Hobo Spider Habitat and Webs
Outdoors, hobo spiders favor sheltered places near ground level: spaces beneath rocks, logs, wood piles, vegetation, retaining walls, and debris. Around buildings they may use cracks in foundations, garages, sheds, and dark basement corners.
Like other agelenids, they build a sheet-like web leading toward a silken retreat. The spider waits in or near its hiding place and rushes out when prey disturbs the silk. Unlike the conspicuous funnels of some grass spiders, a hobo spider’s web may be tucked out of sight under an object; the funnel opening is not always obvious.
Hobo spiders do not climb clean, smooth surfaces particularly well, which helps explain sightings at floor level or in sinks and bathtubs. They can still travel over rough or textured surfaces. A spider found in a sink generally did not emerge from the drain.
Interested in how different species use silk? Read why spiders build webs for an overview of prey-catching webs, retreats, and egg protection.
What Do Hobo Spiders Eat?
Hobo spiders are predators of small arthropods, especially insects moving through the spaces around their webs. A fly, beetle, or other small insect that disturbs the silk can alert the spider to a potential meal. The spider darts forward, subdues its prey, and retreats to feed.
This hunting behavior can look sudden, but it is aimed at prey—not at people. Hobo spiders also help limit local insect populations, so an isolated outdoor spider seldom calls for any intervention.
Hobo Spider Behavior and Life Cycle
Hobo spiders spend much of their time in protected retreats. Adult males become especially noticeable when they leave their webs to search for females. In parts of the western United States, this wandering season commonly falls between August and October, when residents may notice more spiders inside buildings.
After mating, females produce silk-covered egg sacs in sheltered areas. In Utah populations described by extension researchers, females may lay several sacs in autumn, and young emerge in spring. Development time and seasonal timing depend on local conditions.
Are Hobo Spider Bites Dangerous?
Current evidence does not support the claim that hobo spider venom causes necrotic skin wounds in humans. Hobo spiders were associated with serious skin lesions in older North American reports, but later research exposed major problems with identifying the spider responsible for a suspected bite.
Washington State Department of Health and university extension specialists do not consider the hobo spider a dangerous or medically significant species. Confirmed bites are uncommon. A bite might cause temporary local pain or redness, but there is no distinctive set of symptoms that lets someone diagnose a hobo spider bite from the skin alone.
Unexplained redness, blisters, or worsening skin lesions may have other causes, including infections or unrelated medical conditions. Finding a spider nearby does not prove it caused the wound. Hobo spiders are also not the same as Australia’s medically dangerous Sydney funnel-web spiders; they belong to different spider families.
What Should You Do After a Suspected Spider Bite?
- Wash the area gently with soap and water.
- Apply a cool, clean compress for short periods to reduce discomfort and swelling.
- Elevate the affected area when practical, and avoid scratching or squeezing the wound.
- Monitor the symptoms. Contact a healthcare professional if pain, swelling, redness, or the wound itself is worsening, or if you are uncertain what caused it.
- Seek urgent medical attention for difficulty breathing or swallowing, severe or spreading symptoms, or other signs of a serious reaction.
If you can photograph or safely contain the spider without touching it, an identification specialist may be able to help. Never risk a second bite to capture a specimen. This information is educational and is not a substitute for medical assessment.
How to Keep Hobo Spiders Out of Your House
Because hobo spiders are usually incidental visitors or occupy sheltered locations around buildings, preventing entry is more useful than indiscriminate spraying.
- Seal entry points: Repair cracks along foundations, fit door sweeps, and replace damaged window screens.
- Reduce hiding places: Move firewood, loose debris, and unused outdoor materials away from the house; organize cluttered storage areas.
- Vacuum regularly: Clean along baseboards, beneath furniture, and inside rarely disturbed corners to remove webs and reduce insect prey.
- Check stored items: Look inside shoes, gloves, and clothing left on the floor, particularly during late-summer spider activity.
- Relocate individual spiders: When safe, place a container over the spider, slide stiff paper underneath, and move it to a sheltered outdoor location.
Monitoring traps can help locate high-activity areas, but place them where children and pets cannot reach them. Routine pesticide treatment is generally unnecessary for a single spider; if a persistent problem warrants treatment, follow local integrated pest management guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hobo Spiders
Are hobo spiders poisonous or venomous?
They are venomous predators, as most spiders are, but their venom is not considered medically dangerous to humans. “Venomous” describes an animal that injects venom, while “poisonous” generally refers to something harmful when eaten or touched.
Can a hobo spider bite cause skin necrosis?
There is no convincing scientific evidence linking hobo spider venom to necrotic lesions in humans. A worsening sore should be medically assessed rather than automatically attributed to a spider.
Do hobo spiders chase people?
No. They can run quickly, especially when disturbed or searching for mates, but this does not mean they are deliberately chasing or attacking people.
Where are hobo spiders most commonly found in homes?
They are most often encountered near ground level, including basements, garages, storage spaces, and occasionally sinks or bathtubs. Their presence is more noticeable during late-summer and early-autumn movement.
Can you identify a hobo spider by the chevron pattern on its abdomen?
No. Several house spiders and funnel-weavers have similar abdominal markings. A confident identification usually requires an expert examination of anatomical details.
Is a hobo spider the same as a brown recluse?
No. They are different species from different spider families. They also have different geographic ranges. A suspected bite or brown spider should not automatically be labeled as either species.
Final Takeaway
The hobo spider is a ground-associated funnel-weaver, not the aggressive, flesh-damaging threat portrayed in some older accounts. Its brown coloring and chevron-marked abdomen make it easy to confuse with other spiders, while its concealed webs and seasonal wandering explain why people sometimes find it near homes. Accurate identification, sensible exclusion measures, and appropriate medical care for unexplained wounds are more helpful than fear.
References
- Utah State University Extension. Hobo Spider. April 2023. Kate Richardson and Ryan Davis.
- University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. Pest Notes: Hobo Spider. R. S. Vetter.
- Washington State Department of Health. Spiders: Hobo Spider.
- Montana State University Extension. Hobo Spiders, Eratigena agrestis. August 2021.
- Mayo Clinic. Spider Bites: First Aid. July 2026.
