The Joro spider is spreading in the US, but it’s not the invasive species we need to worry about

- The population of the large, brightly colored invasive species called the Joro spider has been growing in parts of the southern and eastern U.S. for years, and some researchers think it’s only a matter of time before it spreads to much of the country. continental US
- Spiders are native to East Asia and their venom is not dangerous to humans.
- Scientists say the Joro spider invasion is an example of a path another species with greater potential to cause environmental damage could take.
A large, brightly colored invasive species called the Joro spider is on the move in the United States. Populations have been growing on parts of the southern and eastern coasts for years, and many researchers think it’s only a matter of time before they spread to much of the continental US.
But spider experts say we shouldn’t worry too much about them.
“My sense is that people like the strange, fantastical and potentially dangerous,” said David Nelsen, a biology professor at Southern Adventist University who has studied the growing variety of Joro spiders. “This is one of those things that checks all the public hysteria boxes.”
DISCOUNT IN AUSTRALIA THE LARGEST MALE SPECIMEN OF THE MOST POISONOUS SPIDER IN THE WORLD
Instead, scientists worry about the growing prevalence of invasive species that can damage our crops and trees, a problem worsened by global trade and climate change, which is making local environmental conditions more comfortable for pests than before. They could not survive the freezing winters.
“I think this is one of those ‘canary in the coal mine’ type species that is striking and gets a lot of attention,” said Hannah Burrack, professor and chair of the entomology department at Michigan State University. But this shy creature poses little risk to humans. Instead, Burrack said, introduced pests like fruit flies and tree borers can cause more damage.
“This is a global concern, because it makes everything we do in terms of conservation, in terms of agricultural production, in terms of human health, more difficult to manage,” he said.
The Joro spider, a large spider native to East Asia, is seen in Johns Creek, Georgia, on Oct. 24, 2021. Populations of the species have been growing on parts of the South and East Coast for years, and many researchers They believe it is only a matter of time before they spread to much of the continental US. (AP Photo/Alex Sanz, File)
WHAT IS THE JORO SPIDER?
The Joro spider belongs to a group of spiders called orb weavers, named for their wheel-shaped webs. They are native to eastern Asia, are bright yellow and black in color, and can grow up to three inches when their legs are fully extended.
However, they are quite difficult to spot this time of year because they are still early in their life cycle and are only the size of a grain of rice. A trained eye can spot their softball-sized nets on a front porch, or their fine threads of golden silk covering a lawn. Adults are most frequently seen in August and September.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
Scientists are still trying to figure it out, said David Coyle, an assistant professor at Clemson University who worked with Nelsen on a study of Joro’s range, published last November. Its core population is primarily in Atlanta, but spreads to the Carolinas and southeastern Tennessee. A satellite population has taken hold in Baltimore in the past two years, Coyle said.
As for when the species will become more prevalent in the Northeast, an end result suggested by your research? “Maybe this year, maybe a decade from now, we really don’t know,” he said. “They probably won’t get that far in a single year. It will take a lot of incremental steps.”
CAN FLY?
Babies can: Using a tactic called “ballooning,” young Joro spiders can use their webs to harness the Earth’s winds and electromagnetic currents to travel relatively long distances. But you won’t see adult Joro spiders taking flight.
WHAT DO THEY EAT?
Joro spiders will eat anything that falls into their web, which mainly ends up being insects. That could mean they’ll compete with native spiders for food, but it may not all be bad: A Joro’s daily catch could also feed native bird species, something Andy Davis, a research scientist at the University of Georgia, says. has personally documented.
As for some observers’ hope that Joro spiders could devour the invasive spotted lanternflies destroying trees on the East Coast? They may eat some, but there is “zero chance” they will make a dent in the population, Coyle said.
ARE THEY DANGEROUS TO HUMANS?
Joro spiders have venom like all spiders, but they are not deadly or even medically relevant to humans, Nelsen said. In the worst case, a Joro bite can be itchy or cause an allergic reaction. But these shy creatures tend to stay out of the way of humans.
What could someday really cause harm to humans is the widespread introduction of other creatures like the emerald ash borer or a fruit fly called spotted-wing drosophila that threaten the natural resources we depend on.
“I try to be scientifically objective about it. And that’s a way to maybe protect myself from the sadness that comes with it. But there is a lot of ecological damage being done around the world, for many reasons, mainly because of humans,” Davis said. . “To me, this is just one more example of humanity’s influence on the environment.”
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