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The hobo spider, Tegenaria agrestis, is a members of the California medical com-
European immigrant that has only been munity have read about the hobo spider
implicated as a potentially poisonous and the effects of its venom and have
spider in the United States since the started to diagnose hobo spider bites
1980s (Fig. 1). Another name commonly without proof of the spider. The pur-
used for this spider is the aggressive pose of this Pest Note is to offer current
house spider (although this spider is information on the status of the hobo
not aggressive). However, in seeking spider in California.
name stability, the American Arach-
nological Society has chosen “hobo IDENTIFICATION
spider” as the spider’s official common The hobo spider is a member of the
name. The name “hobo” is linked to the spider family Agelenidae, a common
spider’s presumed spread to distant group that has many species through-
cities via the railways. out California and the United States.
Agelenid spiders can have very dense
The hobo spider does not live in Cali- populations in certain habitats. The
fornia and has never been documented members of this family construct a Figure 1. The hobo spider, Tegenaria
in the state. There are many cases, how- snare referred to as a funnel web, which agrestis, does not live in California.
ever, of common related spiders being is a trampolinelike, horizontal web con-
misidentified as hobo spiders by the stricting back into a funnel or hole (Fig.
general public and even by pest control as a possibility. None of these species
2). The web is typically found in a crack
operators. In North America, this spider causes necrotic wounds or serious in-
between bricks or under wood, stones,
lives in the Pacific Northwest from jury to humans.
or vegetation. The spider waits in the
British Columbia east to Montana, Wyo- mouth of the funnel for prey to fall
ming and Colorado and south through To distinguish funnel-weaving spider
onto the horizontal surface, and then it
Oregon and northern Utah, so it is species, the arachnid’s reproductive
rushes out, grabs the prey, and takes it
conceivable that its range may extend structures must be examined, a task
back to its funnel to consume. If you go
into the northernmost areas of Cali- that requires the skills of a qualified
outside on a dewy morning, you can
fornia. However, there have been no arachnologist. Each spider species has
often see many of these funnel webs.
documented verifications by a qualified a distinctive “lock and key” design of
arachnologist (spider specialist) to date. the male and female reproductive or-
The hobo spider shares traits with
gans. Through evolution, the physical
many of its relatives in the Agelenidae
Although once common in Seattle, the features of the males and females have
family, including coloration and web-
hobo spider apparently is being com- become unique for each species and
building characteristics. It is a brown
petitively displaced by another Euro- hence are used by arachnologists for
spider about 1/4 to 5/8 inch in body
pean Tegenaria (TEJ-in-Er-ee-uh) species length and lives in a funnel web. There
so that it is now difficult (but not im- are dozens of similar looking spider
possible) to find hobo spiders in Seattle. species in California that build funnel
Hobo spiders are more common further webs, including members of the genera
east and are easily found around Salt Agelenopsis (2 species), Calilena (13 spe-
Lake City, Utah. Interest in this spider cies), Hololena (21 species), Novalena (4
has been growing in California because species), and Rualena (8 species). There
it supposedly causes necrotic (rotting is even a unique wolf spider genus,
flesh) wounds similar to brown recluse Sosippus (1 species), in California that,
bites, another spider that does not oc- unlike its free-hunting relatives, builds
cur in California. (For more information a funnel web. Therefore, if you see
on the brown recluse, see Pest Notes: a funnel web in California, there are
Brown Recluse and Other Recluse Spiders, Figure 1. Funnel web of an agelenid
many other spiders you should suspect spider between bricks in a wall. Note
listed in “Suggested Reading.”) Some before even considering the hobo spider hole at top, where spider often waits.
PEST NOTES
University of California
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Publication 7488
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May 2006 Hobo Spider
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May 2006 Hobo Spider
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