A Hobo Spider, or Aggressive House Spider, is a venomous spider found in the Northwest area of the United States. When it bites, it is usually because the spider has been pressed up against the skin, or has been severely provoked. If bitten, you should capture the spider for identification, and seek medical treatment, especially if the individual is an infant or elderly. The area around the bite may become red and swell, and may sometimes cause necrosis, or the death of tissue around the bite.
Hobo Spiders are very difficult to 100% identify without looking at their reproductive organs through a microscope. However, there are ways to be 80% to 90% sure if the spider you have is a Hobo Spider, and not the closely related Giant and Domestic House Spiders.
One way is to 
look at the underside of the spider.
If the sternum, which is the shield shaped part surrounded by legs, has spots along the outside, then it is most likely not a Hobo Spider. However, the spots may be very faint, so you should not rely only on this way.
The Spider on the left is a Giant House Spider, the right is a Hobo Spider
Another way is to look at the legs of the spider. If the legs are striped, then it is most likely not a Hobo Spider. If they are not striped, it could be a Hobo Spider, but you should probably use another method as well.
Another way is to look at the palps, or male reproductive oragans. They are located near the fangs, and resemble spheres or boxing gloves. If the palps are blunt, it coulb be a Hobo Spider. If they are sharp and thin, it is probably not a Hobo Spider. This is the least definitive in my opinion, and also hard to determine.
None of these methods will 100% indentify the spider. I would use multiple methods, and if you encouter one, just leave it be or use gloves and a jar to relocate it.
For more info on identifying Hobo Spiders, click here
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Spiders, Bugs, House Spiders, Giant House Spiders, Spider Pets, Spider Identification, Spider Habitat, Insects, Entomology
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