If you’ve lived in Atlanta any time in the past ten years, you’ve probably seen a Joro spider. They’re those bright yellow and black spiders that spin extremely large webs (if you haven’t seen the spider, you’ve definitely seen their webs). And right now, they’re all over the news–but why?
What is a Joro spider?
Well first, what actually is a Joro spider? Joro spiders come from East Asia, and are technically an invasive species. They can get really big, which is why people might be spooked by them. Female Joro spiders, with their legs fully outstretched can be as large as the palm of your hand. Male Joro spiders are much smaller. In fact, according to Science News, the species “shows the most extreme size differences between the sexes known among land animals.”
Are Joro spiders venomous?
Yes, Joro spiders are venomous, but you really don’t have to worry about it. Their bites won’t harm you more than a bee sting. Really, the worst thing about Joro spiders is that they can be scary because of their size. Andy Davis, Ph.D., a research scientist in the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia, also noted to Yahoo News that the spiders are very shy and docile. In other words, if you don’t bother them, they’ll probably leave you alone too.
Why is everyone talking about Joro spiders?
So why are Joro spiders in the news, then? Well… they’re on the move. Experts say the huge spiders are making their way to the cooler climates of the Northeast. Any time a new animal enters an area, it causes a stir. And of course, especially if the ‘new animal’ is a huge, bright yellow spider that can parachute its way through the air. But again, when it comes to Joro spiders, there’s no reason to worry! Hey, they might even eat the mosquitos from your hard and lend a helping hand (or eight)!