Hobo Spiders

Hobo spiders are brown funnel-web spiders found in Pacific Northwest basements, crawl spaces, and foundations. Once feared as dangerous, they are now considered to pose little medical risk, but they remain a common ground-level spider on Whidbey and Fidalgo.

How to identify hobo spiders

Body about 1/3 to 1/2 inch, brown with a faint herringbone pattern on the abdomen and no distinct leg banding. Difficult to distinguish from related species without magnification.

Behavior & season on Whidbey & Fidalgo

They build funnel webs at ground level in cracks, crawl spaces, and along foundations, and males wander in late summer and fall. They are poor climbers, so they stay low.

Why hobo spiders are a problem

Current evidence indicates their bite is not medically significant, contrary to older claims, but people still want them out of living spaces, and their ground-level webs are a persistent nuisance.

Signs of hobo spiders activity

• Funnel webs low along foundations and in crawl spaces
• Brown spiders at floor level rather than up on walls
• Wandering males in late summer and fall
• Webbing in cracks and clutter near the ground

How Salty Dog treats hobo spiders

We treat foundation and crawl-space harborage, remove webbing, and seal ground-level entry points to reduce indoor encounters. Learn more about our Spider Control service, or browse the full Pest Library.

Frequently asked questions

Are hobo spiders poisonous?

Older claims of dangerous bites have not held up; current evidence suggests little medical risk. Most people simply prefer them gone.

Where do hobo spiders live?

Low and hidden — crawl spaces, foundations, and floor-level cracks. They are poor climbers, so they rarely appear high on walls.

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