Hobo spiders and brown recluse spiders are often mistaken for each other, but they have key differences in appearance, behavior, and venom effects.

AppearanceHobo spiders are brown with a mottled pattern and lack the violin-shaped marking found on brown recluse spiders. Brown recluse spiders are light to dark brown with a distinctive violin marking on their cephalothorax.

HabitatHobo spiders are commonly found in the Pacific Northwest, living in dry, undisturbed areas like basements and crawl spaces. Brown recluse spiders, on the other hand, are mainly found in the central and southern U.S., preferring warm, dry environments like attics and closets.