If you have a fear of spiders, there’s some bad news for you.Researchers from the University of Georgia claim an invasive species of spider is crawling its way up the East Coast right now.Video above: Joro spiders spreading fast in southeast states and populated cities The Joro spider, also known as the flying spider, was first spotted in northern Georgia almost a decade ago. It’s believed the creatures came from shipping containers from East Asia, where the spiders originate from.Jennifer Zettler, a bug specialist at the University of Georgia said the Joro spiders are able to “fly” from the strength of the silk they web.”It’s really most spiders will disperse. They don’t have wings. But what they’ll do is they’ll use that silk. So maybe spiders will let out a big strand of silk and essentially catch a breeze,” Zettler said.Because of the lack of cold weather the Southeast experiences, Zettler doesn’t expect the spiders to stick around.”Because they’re from an area that have really some pretty cold winters, they’re probably going to have the potential to be able to move up,” Zettler said.However, a close relative to the Joro spider also already made Georgia and the low country its home.The banana spider has a similar appearance, venom and ability to fly as the Joro spider, which is why people constantly confuse the two.Unlike the Joro spider, the banana spider has the ability to bite, but Zettler said not only is it rare, but their venom isn’t dangerous.’They physically have the ability to give a little bit of a bite, but it would be like a mild you sting will disappear right away, so most people don’t get it,” Zettler said.The banana spiders will grow throughout the summer and be fully grown by the fall, just in time for Halloween.”They like to be in areas where they can build a web up in the air so they can catch flying insects,” Zettler said. “They’re probably on the side of houses, they love garbage cans.”Ultimately, Zettler said the spiders are important for insect control.”They are venomous because they are predators. They’re going to go after them, you know, flies, mosquitoes, roaches,” Zettler said.
If you have a fear of spiders, there’s some bad news for you.
Researchers from the University of Georgia claim an invasive species of spider is crawling its way up the East Coast right now.
Video above: Joro spiders spreading fast in southeast states and populated cities
The Joro spider, also known as the flying spider, was first spotted in northern Georgia almost a decade ago. It’s believed the creatures came from shipping containers from East Asia, where the spiders originate from.
Jennifer Zettler, a bug specialist at the University of Georgia said the Joro spiders are able to “fly” from the strength of the silk they web.
“It’s really most spiders will disperse. They don’t have wings. But what they’ll do is they’ll use that silk. So maybe spiders will let out a big strand of silk and essentially catch a breeze,” Zettler said.
Because of the lack of cold weather the Southeast experiences, Zettler doesn’t expect the spiders to stick around.
“Because they’re from an area that have really some pretty cold winters, they’re probably going to have the potential to be able to move up,” Zettler said.
However, a close relative to the Joro spider also already made Georgia and the low country its home.
The banana spider has a similar appearance, venom and ability to fly as the Joro spider, which is why people constantly confuse the two.
Unlike the Joro spider, the banana spider has the ability to bite, but Zettler said not only is it rare, but their venom isn’t dangerous.
‘They physically have the ability to give a little bit of a bite, but it would be like a mild you sting will disappear right away, so most people don’t get it,” Zettler said.
The banana spiders will grow throughout the summer and be fully grown by the fall, just in time for Halloween.
“They like to be in areas where they can build a web up in the air so they can catch flying insects,” Zettler said. “They’re probably on the side of houses, they love garbage cans.”
Ultimately, Zettler said the spiders are important for insect control.
“They are venomous because they are predators. They’re going to go after them, you know, flies, mosquitoes, roaches,” Zettler said.
