My spider photos and some of my natural history writings have been featured on the Oregonian’s website! I’m so excited to see my work getting out to the public!
hobo spider
Tegenaria agrestis ”Hobo spider” Agelenidae (male)
Missoula, MT
September 19, 2013
Robert Niese
The “Hobo Spider” is one of the most unjustly detested house spiders in North America. Like all spiders, Tegenaria are venomous and can bite, but rarely will they do so. Perhaps due to their impressive skittering speed or diurnal nature, their species epithet, agrestis, is often assumed to mean “aggressive.” In Latin, however, agrestis actually means rural, and these spiders would much rather run away from you, than bite your finger.
Tegenaria agrestis “Hobo spider” Agelenidae (male)
Missoula, MT
September 19, 2013
Robert Niese
Northwest Naturalist 