Scary Joro spiders, the size of a human hand, are spreading across the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. The Joro spiders invade US gardens and parking lots, and they are now heading north.

Reportedly, these Joro spiders were first spotted in Georgia a decade ago. These East Asian spiders are named after the mythical Japanese creature Jorogumo.

A Growing Presence on the Eastern Seaboard

This creature is said to turn into a beautiful woman and trap men with silk. These spiders have blue-black and yellow stripes, long legs, and sometimes a splash of red. They might look terrifying but are actually quite shy.

“They’re not dangerous. They’re not aggressive,” said Daniel Kronauer, an associate professor at Rockefeller University. “Even if you go after the spider and harass it to such an extent that it would bite you, it wouldn’t be an issue.”

Behaviour and Adaptability

Most spiders freeze for less than a minute when disturbed. However, Joro spiders can shut down for more than an hour, according to researchers at the University of Georgia. Female Joros can grow as large as 8 inches across, while males reach up to 4 inches.

Native to China, Japan, and Korea, Joro spiders can survive in the Himalayan foothills. Kronauer believes they probably came to the U.S. on trade routes. “Most of these invasive species get spread around by humans, often in cargo that’s carried by ships as ballast,” he said.

Since their arrival, Joro spiders have spread throughout the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland. “They’re pretty cold-tolerant. That’s why we can expect them to move further north,” Kronauer explained.

Ecosystem Impact and Human Interaction

The impact of Joro spiders on the U.S. ecosystem remains uncertain. They tend to thrive in parks, gardens, and parking lots. Kronauer noted, “There’s a good chance that maybe this summer we’ll see some of them in New York.”

Despite their alarming appearance, Joro spiders are unlikely to bite humans or pets. They prefer to eat pesky mosquitoes, roaches, wasps, and other insects.

As Joro spiders invade US gardens and parking lots, people are scared. However, residents should not be overly concerned about these new arachnid neighbors. Joro spiders might look frightening, but their timid nature and beneficial diet make them less of a threat. In fact, they are more of an asset in controlling other insect populations.

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