Uploaded April 2018 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
A common and often irrationally feared member of the family Agelenidae, or funnel-web spiders, is a transplant to the Northwestern United States from Europe. Often considered a pest, the hobo spider, Eratigena agrestis (agrestis meaning "field") can be found in wood piles, alongside houses, between rocks and in various nooks and crannies where it builds a funnel shaped web and waits for prey. During the months of July-September, particularly, hobo spiders seem to come from everywhere due to the wandering nature of the males who are in search of a stationary female in order to mate. Their poor eye sight may attribute to the belief that they charge forward aggressively. Also, their speed often leaves onlookers stunned at the flurry of legs, a barely fathomable caramel-colored blur that streaks across the floor, particularly when the family has sat down on the sofa for nice evening of TV and popcorn. But, alas, the poor hobo spider is merely looking for love and has taken a wrong turn. Spare him his life and put him outside.
A common and often irrationally feared member of the family Agelenidae, or funnel-web spiders, is a transplant to the Northwestern United States from Europe. Often considered a pest, the hobo spider, Eratigena agrestis (agrestis meaning "field") can be found in wood piles, alongside houses, between rocks and in various nooks and crannies where it builds a funnel shaped web and waits for prey. During the months of July-September, particularly, hobo spiders seem to come from everywhere due to the wandering nature of the males who are in search of a stationary female in order to mate. Their poor eye sight may attribute to the belief that they charge forward aggressively. Also, their speed often leaves onlookers stunned at the flurry of legs, a barely fathomable caramel-colored blur that streaks across the floor, particularly when the family has sat down on the sofa for nice evening of TV and popcorn. But, alas, the poor hobo spider is merely looking for love and has taken a wrong turn. Spare him his life and put him outside.
