Many people wonder if hobo spiders can jump, a misconception stemming from their swift movements. Understanding their actual behavior clarifies this.
How Hobo Spiders Actually Move
Hobo spiders (Eratigena agrestis) primarily move by running. Their rapid, darting movements can be mistaken for jumping, but their anatomy is not designed for it. As members of the funnel-web spider family (Agelenidae), their legs are structured for running and navigating their sheet-like webs. They are ground-dwelling, poor climbers, typically found at ground level.
Unlike true jumping spiders, hobo spiders lack specialized leg adaptations for propelled leaps. They use quick bursts of running to pursue prey or evade threats. Their rapid scuttling, sometimes towards a person, is often due to poor eyesight causing unpredictable movement when disturbed, not aggression.
Dispelling the Jumping Myth: Hobo Spiders vs. Jumping Spiders
The misconception that hobo spiders jump often stems from confusing them with true jumping spiders (family Salticidae). Jumping spiders leap using a hydraulic system for powerful jumps, actively hunting prey by stalking and pouncing, unlike the hobo spider’s ambush strategy.
Key differences exist in their appearance and behavior. Jumping spiders have large, forward-facing eyes for excellent vision, crucial for their hunting. Hobo spiders, conversely, have poor vision with eight eyes in two horizontal rows. Hobo spiders build characteristic funnel-shaped webs to capture prey, while jumping spiders are active hunters that use silk as a dragline for safety, not for prey capture.
Understanding Hobo Spider Behavior
Hobo spiders commonly inhabit sheltered outdoor areas such as woodpiles, rock piles, retaining walls, and tall grass, constructing funnel webs. These webs are typically a sheet-like structure leading into a funnel. Indoors, they are often found in basements, crawl spaces, and dark corners, especially from August through October when males seek mates.
Hobo spiders are generally non-aggressive and will typically flee when disturbed. Bites usually occur only when the spider feels threatened or is accidentally pressed against skin. While past concerns about severe reactions to hobo spider bites were prevalent, current scientific evidence indicates their venom is not considered medically significant to humans, and confirmed cases of necrotic lesions are rare or misdiagnosed. Symptoms from a hobo spider bite are typically mild, often involving only slight pain and redness.