Spiders tend to not be on many people's "favorite creatures" list. Scientists have recently announced some news that arachnophobes will find troubling. If you're afraid of spiders, you'll want to watch where you're walking in New York this spring. The Empire State is expected to undergo an invasion of Joro spiders, a large, fearsome-looking spider from Asia. They've already hit Georgia and Florida last year and are expected to head further north in 2022. Keep an eye out for these big yellow spiders that look like something from a children's cartoon!
These palm-sized spiders are known as Trichonephila clavata or the Joro spider. They are very common in Asia and have invaded the southeastern U.S. within the last few years.
They're so prevalent that they are rapidly becoming a normal part of the ecosystem in the southeast, meaning we will need to get used to them.
Joro spiders spin a very distinctive large, thick, golden-colored web. Adult females are large and have an abdomen about as large as an adult's thumb.
The small red spider closer to the camera in this picture is the male. As you can see, they are much less noticeable!
These spiders are able to balloon through the air via their silk strands. They have been known to travel up to 100 miles via this "parachuting" ability.
It's worth noting that it's typically the younger spiders and males that parachute, since the adult females are typically too heavy to float in the air.
These spiders may look fearsome, but in actuality, they don't pose any threat to humans. They are mildly venomous, but their fangs are too small to damage human skin, and they're not aggressive unless cornered.
In many ways, they're actually beneficial, as they consume stinkbugs, mosquitos, and other pests.
So if you see a Joro spider in New York when you're out walking, simply admire these amazing arachnids and head on your way.
Besides, there are expected to be so many of them that killing them really won't do any good, anyway. You'll run into another one immediately after.
Have you spotted any Joro spiders in New York? Share your creepy crawly stories in the comments!
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