Hobo Spider
Description
Vary from ½" to 1 ¾" in body length, with dark brown carapace. The abdomen has a chevron pattern that often fades in older specimens.
Why be concerned?
The hobo spider actually helps control many insect pests. During late summer the male travels about looking for mates. Hobo spiders bite when startled or threatened. What starts as a small spider bite can grow into a large wound as its powerful venom slowly kills the flesh.
What You Can Do
Hobo spiders spin a distinct, dense, funnel-shaped web, typically along foundations, in woodpiles, stacked equipment, or yard waste. The hobo spider rarely climbs high on vertical surfaces, so search low to the ground. Hobo spiders do not create all funnel-shaped webs, but treat them all carefully. Wear gloves when working in the yard, cleaning your basement, or reaching into dark areas.
What We Would Do
Our easiest, least invasive treatment is a nontoxic material that makes it impossible to attach a web to a structure. Reducing their food supply (insects), eliminating habitat, and removing webs can also discourage hobo spiders. Excessive populations can be eliminated through chemical treatment. This integrated program can be adapted to control a variety of spiders in and around structures.
