I am begging the media to stop making harmless bugs out to be terrifying monsters in their headlines. I’ve seen Joro spiders all over the news lately with these super scary-sounding headlines. Sometimes the truth is buried somewhere in the article, but how many people just read a headline and move on?
So let’s get a few things straight...
1. Parachuting or ballooning is a common method of dispersal used by countless species of spiders, primarily when they are spiderlings and very VERY tiny. They’re not flying, they’re sending out a little parachute of silk that gets caught in the wind. This is, among other things, a way to avoid competing with their siblings for resources. Adults don’t do it, so there will not be giant spiders flying through the sky and landing on your head.
2. Joro spiders are non-native, but so far scientists have no proof of detrimental effects to our native ecosystems. Given the scope of their spread so far, it’s likely they’ll become naturalized and be a new fixture in the US.
3. They aren’t “invading.” They were brought here in 2013 from their native habitat in Asia by human activity, and now they’re thriving because our climate is perfect for them.
4. Joro spiders are not dangerous. Bites may be painful, but their venom is not medically significant, meaning even if you were bitten (unlikely), you would most likely not need medical attention unless you developed an infection.
5. They can get rather big, but we have several native species of spider that are just as large.
6. Joro spiders are orbweavers and prefer weaving their large webs between trees or other vegetation to catch flying prey. They have no reason to come into your house, although they may make webs on or near your home.
Anyway Joro spiders are beautiful let’s admire one
Photo by supertiger