Hobo spiders and Brown recluse spiders: What's the difference?

Hobo Spider

Brown Recluse Spider

Hobo spider geography: In North America, the hobo spider lives in the Pacific Northwest, from British Columbia east to Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado, and south through Oregon and northern Utah.

Brown recluse spider geography: Brown recluse spiders are found in the South Central and Midwestern U.S.

Hobo spider origin: Hobo spiders are an invasive species from Europe.

Brown recluse spider origin: Brown recluse spiders are native to the U.S.

Hobo spider appearance: Hobo spiders have a brown body and brownish-yellow markings on the abdomen.

Brown recluse spider appearance: Brown recluse spiders are mostly brown, with a darker brown violin-shaped mark on the back.

Hobo spider venom: According to the CDC, hobo spider venom is not considered toxic to humans. 

Brown recluse spider venom: The CDC reports that the venom of a brown recluse spider can cause a severe lesion by destroying skin tissue (skin necrosis).

Hobo spider size: Hobo spiders are around the size of a nickel. They have shorter legs than other types of spiders.

Brown recluse spider size: Adult brown recluse spiders (with legs extended) are about the size of a U.S. quarter.

Hobo spider prey: Hobo spiders build funnel-shaped webs to catch their prey. They lie in wait at the end of the funnel for prey insects to enter the web.

Brown recluse spider prey: Brown recluse spiders hunt their prey rather than catch them in a web.

Hobo spider visibility: Because male hobo spiders wander indoors to find mates, they are more likely to come into contact with humans.

Brown recluse spider visibility: As the name suggests, brown recluse spiders typically retreat to dark, secluded areas during the daytime.