It's essential to exercise caution and avoid provoking hobo spiders to prevent potential bites. By maintaining a safe distance and refraining from handling them, you can reduce the likelihood of confrontation and minimize the risk of being bitten.
If you find hobo spiders in your house, you needn't be alarmed. Shake out clothes stored on the ground and tap out your footwear before you put them on to avoid a possible defensive bite. Spiders found can be squished or likewise killed if so desired.
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.
Today the hobo spider is no longer considered of probable medical importance. The hobo spider does not live in California. There are many cases, however, of common related spiders being misidentified as hobo spiders by the general public and even by pest control operators.
They feel the vibrations of our presence, or detect our chemistry and they run. We probably overwhelm their senses, causing a type of panic. So they're not really running at you. They just don't have the cognitive ability to know they're not running away from you.
The CDC does not list hobo spiders among venomous spider species that are toxic to humans. Hobo spiders will bite in defense, causing mild pain and redness, but in general, they are not aggressive nor of significant health concern.
Clean the bite area with warm water and soap. Apply a cold, damp washcloth or an ice pack to the bite area. Elevate the bite area. Take an antihistamine (allergy medicine) to ease itching and swelling.
The world's most venomous spider is a species complex: systematics of the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atracidae: Atrax robustus)
Brown recluse spiders have necrotoxic venom that is capable, although unlikely, of causing necrotic lesions. Initially, hobo spiders were thought to have similar venom, but current scientific research as well as medical literature indicates the venom is not a medical threat to the average person.
Here's some bad news for people with arachnophobia: It's hobo spider mating season! Hobo spiders are most noticeable and active from August through October, when spiders come indoors to mate. The name "hobo" is linked to the spider's presumed spread to distant cities via railways.
Avoid Provoking the Spider: Hobo spiders are known to bite if they feel threatened. Therefore, it's crucial to avoid provoking them or attempting to handle them yourself. Instead, maintain a safe distance and proceed with caution.
A Hobo Spider's legs do not have leg bands. So, if you see leg bands, it's likely not a Hobo Spider. When you see either one of them in your house, it's probably because they've left their web (we call it a “bone yard”) looking for a mate. Mating season spans the last few months of the year, peaking in November.
Hobo spiders flee danger and can run at a speed of up to 40 inches per second, are poor climbers on smooth surfaces and are unlikely to bite humans unless threatened, e.g., being trapped between clothing and skin.
Protect yourself from spiders while sleeping by keeping your bed away from walls, using bed risers, and washing bedding regularly. Consider using lavender-scented sheets or placing cedar blocks near your bed.
Signs and Symptoms
These symptoms may also include a reddened area of up to 3 or more inches in diameter. This reddened area will become blistered between 15 to 35 hours after the bite, and about a day later the blister breaks and oozes.
Should I sleep in my bed if I found a spider? Finding a spider in your bed might be unsettling, but most are harmless and unlikely to pose a threat. If you're comfortable doing so, gently relocate the spider outside using a container and a piece of paper.
Seal gaps, holes, and other entry points.
Hobo spiders and other pests come into your home through small cracks and crevices. Repair or install weather stripping, replace or repair torn window and door screens, and caulk or fill gaps, holes, and spaces.
Hobo spiders are not aggressive, however, they will bite when threatened or pressed against skin. The poison released by a hobo spider bite is not strong enough to cause life-threatening complications.
There is evidence consistent with the idea of pain in crustaceans, insects and, to a lesser extent, spiders. There is little evidence of pain in millipedes, centipedes, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs but there have been few investigations of these groups.
Some people believe that placing dryer sheets in corners or near windows can repel spiders. Again, while the scent might discourage spiders from settling in those areas, it won't solve the problem entirely. Spiders are attracted to homes with abundant food sources, such as other insects.
Common Myths and Misconceptions About Spiders
One prevalent myth suggests that bright lights attract spiders. In reality, spiders don't have strong vision and aren't drawn to light; however, the insects they prey upon often are, which may explain this misconception.
Strangely, it does! The eucalyptus and menthol in Vicks VapoRub are also scents spiders hate. You can rub Vicks straight onto your chest, in the corners of your room, under your bed, and around your windows and doors to reap the benefits of unblocked airways and a spider-free zone.