More information about our Privacy Policy. In America the Hobo spider has few competitors and readily enters houses. However, the following characteristics identify hobo spiders among other species with a similar general appearance: Eratigena agrestis is distributed from Europe to Central Asia, and is also found in western North America, in the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin. The Hobo spider is similar in appearance to its larger relative the Common house spider (Tegenaria duellica). [1] In 2013, Tegenaria was split up, and the hobo spider was transferred to a new genus Eratigena, an anagram of Tegenaria.[1][4]. Erroneous attribution of dermonecrotic lesions to brown recluse or hobo spider bites in Canada", "White-tail spider bite: a prospective study of 130 definite bites by, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hobo_spider&oldid=985025259, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2016, Taxonbars with automatically added original combinations, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Hobo spiders lack the colored bands found on many spiders of the family. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. There are approximately 500 species of Agelenidae worldwide, 28 of which occur in northern Europe.
The hobo spider lays its eggs in September and they hatch during late spring. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. [2], The species was first described in 1802 by naturalist Charles Athanase Walckenaer as Aranea agrestis,[1] in reference to its western European habitat in fields, woods, and under rocks. Scottish charity no.
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[12] In Canada, there is no evidence that hobo spider bites cause skin necrosis. England at The Lindens, 86 Lincoln Road, Peterborough PE1 2SN. [citation needed], It is a resident of fields, rarely entering human habitations due to the presence of major competitors, particularly the giant house spider (Eratigena atrica), which is a common resident of houses and other man-made structures in Europe. The hobo spider (Eratigena agrestis, formerly Tegenaria agrestis) is a member of the genus of spiders known colloquially as funnel web spiders, but not to be confused with the Australian funnel-web spider. The large Hobo spider is often referred to as a brownfield site specialist where it may be found living under stones and in vegetation.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The Hobo spider has been introduced accidently into North America where it was first reported in Seattle, Washington in the 1930’s. In Europe it is rare to see a hobo spider indoors as the indigenous house spiders keep them out.
The Hobo spider can be easily identified in the field by an expert using a hand lens. The Hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis) is a large spider in the Agelenidae family. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.
[3] In 1841, Walckenaer transferred the species to the genus Tegenaria. Hobo spiders sometimes build their webs in or around human habitations.
We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences! The giant house spider is a close relative of the hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis) which is found throughout western Europe and more recently in the USA. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. The Hobo Spider (Tegenaria agrestis) is a member of the genus of spiders known as funnel web spiders. SC040004 Company no. The Hobo Spider is one of a small number of spiders in North America whose bites are generally considered to be medically significant. The female produces one to four egg cases (each one holding 50-100 eggs) that she attaches to the underside of rocks and other objects using silk. The large Hobo spider is often referred to as a brownfield site specialist where it may be found living under stones and in vegetation. If the female shows no signs of aggression, the male will gradually approach her and once mated, the male will leave in search of other females. Like many species of spider the positive identification of Eratigena agrestis requires microscopic examination of the epigynum and palpal bulb (the female and male sex organs respectively) and is best done by an arachnologist. [1] It is recorded in the checklist of Danish spider species,[7] and is present on the small island of Peberholm, probably having been carried there by foreign trains. Females have been known to kill males and if she shows any sign of aggression he will retreat. Hobo spiders are native to Europe and were first recorded in Britain from Wilverley plain in Hampshire in 1949.
Females are typically larger than males and she will remain stationary in her web while males search for a mate. If the spider instead has three or four pairs of light spots on the lateral portions of the sternum, then it is one of the other two related, Hobo spiders do not have two distinct longitudinal dark stripes on the top side of the, This page was last edited on 23 October 2020, at 14:32. Brownfield sites are areas that have been altered by human activity and then abandoned, and include old houses, abandoned industrial areas, quarries and disused airstrips. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Affiliate Disclaimer AnimalCorner.co.uk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
When building a web, they spin a tubular retreat that may be funnel shaped and from this they extend either a small collar of silk or a small to large sheet. Open mosaic habitat on previously developed land is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan habitat. In Europe, the Hobo spider typically doesn’t enter houses due to competition from its larger relative the Common house spider. [13], "Phylogeny and taxonomy of European funnel-web spiders of the, "Bites and stings of medically important venomous arthropods", "How to identify (or misidentify) the hobo spider", "Necrotic arachnidism- Pacific Northwest, 1988-1996", "An approach to spider bites. As a result, human contacts with the hobo spider are uncommon in Europe. After the male hobo spider mates it then dies. [5] Identification relies on an examination of the spider’s anatomy. Individuals construct a funnel-shaped structure of silk sheeting and lie in wait at the small end of the funnel for prey insects to blunder onto their webs.