Current:Home > NewsJoro spiders are an invasive species known for parachuting through the air. Here's why you shouldn't fear them.-LoTradeCoin
Joro spiders are an invasive species known for parachuting through the air. Here's why you shouldn't fear them.
View Date:2024-12-23 22:16:12
Halloween may be over, but that doesn't mean that scary-looking spiders are done for the year. A large yellow spider known as the Joro spider that's been found in several states is expected to continue spreading along the East Coast, according to a scientist at Clemson University.
The spiders are sometimes called parachuting spiders because they can move by shooting out a long strand of silk that gets caught by the wind, carrying them through the air. But Clemson assistant professor Dave Coyle, who has a doctorate in entomology and has been studying the spiders for years, said people shouldn't expect the brightly colored creatures to suddenly descend on them from above.
"The big ones don't do that," he said. "That's a tiny spider thing. It happens, and people don't even know that there are tiny spiders in the sky."
What are Joro spiders?
Joro spiders were first found in the U.S. in Georgia in 2014. Since then, the species that's native to east Asia has been spotted in Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Coyle expects them to continue to spread.
"It seems extremely likely that they will have no problem expanding to the whole eastern half of the country," he said.
Are Joro spiders poisonous?
While all spiders have some venom, the Joro spider poses a threat to whatever gets caught in its web — which can include butterflies, cockroaches, stink bugs and wasps — but not to humans.
"We have no evidence that they've done any damage to a person or a pet," Coyle said.
A video about Joro spiders posted online by Clemson shows several children letting the arachnids crawl on their hands.
While the spiders don't pose a threat to humans, they have an effect on other spiders, Coyle said. Areas with high populations of Joro spiders have been found to have lower populations of spiders that are actually native to the area, he said.
"That to me is a very distinct ecological impact," Coyle said.
How big are Joro spiders?
The females can grow to an inch long and 2 to 3 inches across with their legs spread. With their yellow and gray abdomen, the spiders aren't exactly cuddly.
"Anyone that doesn't sort of like all the creepy crawly things, this has all of the characteristics that makes them squeamish," Coyle said.
What should people do if they see a Joro spider?
When it comes to another invasive species, the spotted lanternfly, officials have urged the public to squash them. Coyle would like people to shoot Joro spiders — with a camera.
To help scientists track the spiders, Coyle urged people who come across them to take pictures and upload them to crowdsourcing app iNaturalist.
- In:
- spider
Alex Sundby is a senior editor for CBSNews.com.
TwitterveryGood! (12387)
Related
- Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow's Son Moses Martin Reveals His Singing Talents at Concert
- These Are the 26 Beauty Products That Amazon Can’t Keep In Stock
- New Mexico Supreme Court rules tribal courts have jurisdiction over casino injury and damage cases
- Top official says Kansas courts need at least $2.6 million to recover from cyberattack
- Pedro Pascal's Sister Lux Pascal Debuts Daring Slit on Red Carpet at Gladiator II Premiere
- New bipartisan bill proposes increase in child tax credit, higher business deductions
- A federal judge declines to block Georgia’s shortened 4-week runoff election period
- How Mexico City influenced the icy Alaska mystery of ‘True Detective: Night Country’
- TikToker Campbell “Pookie” Puckett Gives Birth, Welcomes First Baby With Jett Puckett
- 'Say Something' tip line in schools flags gun violence threats, study finds
Ranking
- Judge sets April trial date for Sarah Palin’s libel claim against The New York Times
- Disney hopes prosecutor’s free speech case against DeSantis helps its own lawsuit against governor
- Proposed Louisiana congressional map, with second majority-Black district, advances
- Coachella 2024: Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat and Tyler, the Creator to headline, No Doubt to reunite
- 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant makes viral mistake: 'Treat yourself a round of sausage'
- Top NATO military officer urges allies and leaders to plan for the unexpected in Ukraine
- Bobi was named world’s oldest dog by Guinness. Now his record is under review.
- A rare white penguin has been discovered in Antarctica among one of the world's largest penguin species
Recommendation
-
DWTS' Gleb Savchenko Shares Why He Ended Brooks Nader Romance Through Text Message
-
Want tickets to the Lions vs. Buccaneers game? They could cost you thousands on resale
-
Amid scrutiny, Boeing promises more quality checks. But is it enough?
-
4 men found dead at Southern California desert home
-
Horoscopes Today, November 11, 2024
-
How Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade Become One of Hollywood's Biggest Success Stories
-
Jordan Love's incredible rise validates once-shocking move by Packers GM Brian Gutekunst
-
One of the world's most venomous snakes found hiding in boy's underwear drawer