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Hobo Spider Recluse

Brown recluse and hobo spiders are not only similar in appearance: their bites also produce similar symptoms. These spiders are commonly mistaken for one another and proper identification is necessary to ensure appropriate treatment of bites. Both hobo and brown recluse spider bites are known to cause necrotic wounds. These lesions may turn gangrenous and usually take a long time to heal. The brown recluse can prove deadly, while no deaths have been documented from hobo spider bites.

Also known as the fiddle-back spider, the brown recluse is known for the violin-shaped marking present atop its abdomen. Brown recluse spiders are brown in color and their bodies appear velvet-like as a result of fine hairs. Hobo spiders appear similar to brown recluses, but their coloration tends to range from rust to reddish brown. On specimens that have recently molted, the brown recluse's violin marking may be light and difficult to see, allowing for much confusion between these species.

Both spiders have been known to bite when disturbed or threatened. Because these arachnids prefer to dwell in dark, rarely accessed places, humans often come upon them unwittingly. Brown recluse and hobo spiders may hide in closets inside of clothing or shoes and can also be found residing outdoors in woodpiles. At the first sign of threat, they will bite. 

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