The bite of the hobo spider can cause serious tissue damage, and those living in the Northwestern U.S. and Europe should be aware of the stages and symptoms of this spider bite. The bite is similar to that of the brown recluse, though usually not as serious.
History
Many hobo spider bites were originally blamed on the legendary brown recluse because of the similar bite symptoms. The brown recluse is not found in the same areas, so the hobo spider bite was eventually diagnosed.
First Signs
When first bitten, you feel little if any pain. After about 30 minutes, the bite will develop a hard area in its center similar to that of a brown recluse bite. The surrounding tissues will become red and will likely itch and burn.
Time Frame
Most people develop blisters at around two days after the bite, and the bite scabs over. The tissues underneath often die and will begin to slough away. Some people have so much tissue death that surgery is necessary to remove it. Scarring is common.
Systemic Symptoms
There are many symptoms that are variable depending upon the amount of venom injected, size of the spider and the health of the person who was bitten. Some people develop serious headaches that are similar to migraines. Others complain of vomiting, dizziness, nausea and visual irregularities. Rarely, one might complain of loss of memory.
Identification
Identifying the hobo spider is rarely possible without a microscope. The reason for this is because there are many spiders that look like the hobo spider. In general, they are brown in color, covered in tiny hairs, and have chevron markings on their abdomens. They are medium-sized spiders, about 15mm on average.
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