Hobo spiders find home in Northwest, Canada

Last week, I wrote an article on the brown recluse spider. Since that article, I've received several calls from folks wanting to know the difference between the brown recluse and the hobo spider.

In this week's article, I thought I would explore the subject and hopefully add clarity to the subject.

The hobo spider has presided in the United States since the early 1930s. Originally from Europe, it arrived in the United States in Seattle via ships carrying cargo from Europe. Since then, it has migrated throughout northwestern United States and Canada.

Despite their increasing range and population, public awareness has been limited primarily because of the notoriety of the brown recluse spider, which has been blamed for most of the bites people has sustained.

The hobo spider looks a lot like the brown recluse. It measures about 12 to 16mm in length and its legs have distinctive rings with short hairs. The stomach has several chevron shaped markings. The female has a larger abdomen than the male.

About 50 percent of hobo spider bites are considered "dry bites," meaning that there was no venom injected. In most cases, the victim doesn't realize they have been bitten.

However, when venom has been transferred, the victim will experience immediate redness which develops around the bite. During the first 24 hours, the bite will look like a mosquito bite that turns into a blister. At about 36 hours, the blister breaks open and leaves an open, oozing ulceration, which usually heals in about two to three weeks and leaves a scar.

The venom from both the brown recluse spiders and hobo spiders produce just about the same bite symptoms to their victims.

Note: Once bitten by a spider, you should contact your family physician for treatment.

The hobo spider makes a funnel-shaped, non-sticky web that is usually attached to crawl space floor joists, attic rafters, between planters or anything else that remains stationary.

If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed Madan at Northwest Environmental Services (255-2266) or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed Do?

Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood and mold inspection and remediation contractor. Ed is chief executive officer of Northwest Environmental Services, LLC.