So last night I managed to get this huge spider (see previous blog post) inside of a lidded bowl.  Now that I can get a good, close and safe look at him I cannot tell for sure if he is a common Giant House Spider or the poisonous Hobo Spider.  He does appear to have the chevrons on his body, which indicate a Hobo.  I happen to have exterminators coming out to the house next week, so I am hoping they can tell me for sure.  Hobo Spiders are found in Seattle and the Pacific NW - an accidental immigrant from Europe.  Their bites cause necrosis - which is a rotting of your flesh.

What scares me is that this big dude was in my laundry room - where my little kitten could have happened upon him.  Being more curious than my older girls, I’m sure he would have gotten bitten by this thing.  I must say however - I have to attribute the hypnosis I had years ago for even making it possible for me to hold the container up to a light to take the photo above - let alone stare for an hour at various spider identification photos.  My skin still crawls though…