Spider attack in US! Should Americans worry?

Spider-Man has been a saviour for the nation but this time Americans need to watch out for a large, brightly colored invasive species called the Joro spider.

Joro spider is on the move in the United States. Populations have been growing in parts of the South and East Coast for years, and many researchers think it's only a matter of time before they spread to much of the continental US, as per AP report.

The Joro spider is one of a group of spiders called orb-weavers, named for their wheel-shaped webs. They're native to East Asia, have bright yellow and black coloring and can grow as long as three inches (8 cm) when their legs are fully extended.


However, they’re pretty hard to spot at this time of year because they’re still early in their life cycle, only about the size of a grain of rice. A trained eye can spot their softball-sized webs on a front porch, or their gossamer threads of golden silk blanketing the grass. Adults are most commonly seen in August and September.

Can Joro Spider Fly?

The babies can: using a tactic called 'ballooning', young Joro spiders can use their webs to harness the winds and electromagnetic currents of the Earth to travel relatively long distances. But you won't see fully-grown Joro spiders taking flight.

Are Joro Spiders Harmful?

Joro spiders have venom like all spiders, but they aren't deadly or even medically relevant to humans, Nelsen said. At worst, a Joro bite might itch or cause an allergic reaction. But the shy creatures tend to stay out of humans' way.

What could one day truly cause damage to humans is the widespread introduction of other creatures like the emerald ash borer or a fruit fly called the spotted wing drosophila that threaten the natural resources we rely upon.

FAQs:

Q1. What is Joro Spider?
A1. The Joro spider is one of a group of spiders called orb-weavers, named for their wheel-shaped webs. They're native to East Asia, have bright yellow and black coloring and can grow as long as three inches (8 cm) when their legs are fully extended.

Q2. Are Joro Spiders Fly?
A2. The babies can: using a tactic called 'ballooning', young Joro spiders can use their webs to harness the winds and electromagnetic currents of the Earth to travel relatively long distances. But you won't see fully-grown Joro spiders taking flight.