Can Hobo Spiders Climb Walls?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Funnel web have “feet” designed for walking on their webs and

large hobo spiders aren't designed to climb smooth surfaces in homes, such as painted walls

. Consequently, when they enter homes they are usually found at ground level in the basement because they cannot climb walls or slick surfaces to escape.

Can hobo spiders jump?


Hobo spiders are not vertical climbers

, so they will usually build their webs at ground level or below ground level in basements. If the web is located in a ground level or below ground spot, you may be looking at a hobo web.

Why do hobo spiders run at you?

They do not see well, and therefore they often run on people, this does not mean that they are aggressive as most people think, but it can be that

they are trying to get away

.

Where do hobo spiders hang out?

Hobo spiders prefer

dark, damp hiding places

and often make garages and basements their homes. In late summer and early fall, males of the species may wander into houses in search of a mate. Crevices in bricks and dark areas are ideal nesting spots for the pests.

Do hobo spiders chase you?


Hobo spiders do not chase people

; however, their vision is quite poor, which means a provoked spider may run towards a person without realizing it. Hobo spiders sometimes called aggressive house spiders, are not violent. Unless provoked, hobo spiders prefer to escape and not fight.

Do hobo spiders move fast?

Funnel-web spiders are long-legged, swift-running spiders that build funnel or tube-shaped retreats.

The hobo spider runs at an average speed of about 0.45 meters (17 inches) per second, with a maximum speed of about 1.1 meters (40 inches) per second

.

Are hobo spiders good to have around?

Hobo spiders are

very good at finding their way into homes

and love to build webs in dark, protected areas.

How can you tell a hobo spider?

It can be difficult to identify a hobo spider simply by the way it looks.

Long legs, a brown body, and a grayish abdomen with yellowish markings

are typical of many types of spiders. The body length of a hobo spider is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long with a leg span of about 1-2 inches.

Are hobo spiders blind?

The quick movements of the hobo spider and the fact that they sometimes run toward individuals when disturbed have fueled such myths. The truth is,

hobo spiders have very poor vision

and can't see objects more than a couple feet away.

How long do hobo spiders live?


Warmer coastal region Hobo Spiders typically live one year

. Inland populations of Hobo Spiders, like Utah typically live longer spanning two-three years. Eggs deposited in Fall begin to hatch in the Spring. Males seek out females for mating during the summer and most die before October.

How can you tell the difference between a giant house spider and a hobo spider?

A Couple Of Spider Identification Tips

Here are a few: 1-

Hobo Spiders do not have darker color bands on their leg joints

as most spiders (like the Giant House Spider) do. 2-If you are brave enough to turn it around and look at its sternum, a Giant House Spider has round markings on it, and a Hobo Spider does not.

How common are hobo spiders?


No hobo spiders have been found yet in California

. One of the limitations of the distribution study is that extensive areas of the northwestern U.S. are sparsely populated by humans; it is difficult to get an accurate handle on exactly where the hobo spider is because submissions are concentrated in metropolitan areas.

Are hobo spiders harmful?

Hobo spiders are not aggressive; however, they will bite when pressed against the skin.

The poison released by a hobo spider bite is not strong enough to cause life-threatening complications

, but there may be pain, headache, extreme nausea, fatigue in some people after being bitten.

How can you tell the difference between a brown recluse and a hobo spider?


While the brown recluse spider is famous for having a brown violin-shaped mark on its back, the hobo spider has chevrons

. Usually, the points of the V-shaped markings point toward the head and extend down the back of the arachnid.

What happens if you get bit by a hobo spider?

Not many researchers have focused on an identified hobo bite. In a single study, a person experienced some minor pain and redness with a hobo bite, but these disappeared after 12 hours.

Some people have reported tissue death (necrosis) after a hobo spider bite

.

How long can a hobo spider live without food?

Spiders can live about

four to eight weeks

without food and for three weeks without water; actually, spiders can store water and food within them that help them use at the time of fasting or when they don't have anything for them.

What should I do with a hobo spider?

Using a vacuum to remove any spiderwebs inside or outside your home. Installing sticky glue traps in closets or basements to catch those wandering males. Applying an insecticide around baseboards, windows, doorways, cracks and crevices to kill both the hobo spiders and other insects the hobo spider may feed on.

How large can a hobo spider get?

Hobo Spider Characteristics


The female Hobo Spider reaches sizes of 11 – 15 millimetres

. The male Hobo Spider measures 8 – 11 millimetres. There is no dimorphism (difference in form between individuals of different sex in the same species) in colour or markings.

What animals eat hobo spider?

Competitors & Predators


Mantis religiosa is a praying mantis

that kills and consumes hobo spiders. The mantises are a big contributor to limiting Tegenaria agrestis populations. There are also some species of wasps that feed on hobo spiders.

Is a hobo spider a house spider?

The scientific name of the hobo spider is Tegenaria agrestis. Also living in Washington are 2 other closely related spiders,

the giant house spider

, Tegenaria duellica (known as Tegenaria gigantea to some) and the barn funnel weaving spider, Tegenaria domestica (also known as the domestic house spider to some).

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.