East Asian spiders are here. They may be an imposing sight, but they’re really nothing to stress about.
There’s been some media buzz lately about the Joro spider, an invasive, brightly colored arachnid as large as a person’s hand. Back in 2013, they showed up in Georgia and have since spread up and down the East Coast of the United States.
Originally from East Asia, the spiders apparently hitched rides on incoming cargo and have adapted well to our environment. They have shown themselves hardy enough to survive cold snaps that would kill many tropical spiders.
Joro spiders are related to native orb weavers and build large, symmetrical webs. They pose no risk to humans and may actually be a good food source for birds and other animals.
A likely aid in their spread is the spider’s ability to travel up to 100 miles through the air by releasing a long strand of web that the wind carries along.
Here’s a TV news report about the Joro spider’s recent invasion:
