As if invasive snakes, lizards and hogs weren’t bad enough, the Southeast is now being claimed by a large spider species that originated in Asia.
The Joro spider is native to Japan, Korea and China; the species likely made it to North America as stowaways on ocean cargo vessels and while the spider is invasive, it is not a danger to other arachnid species.
In fact, most people reading this have likely seen a Joro spider since they prefer to hang out in urban areas where there is a lot of human activity. The bright yellow on black spiders like to cast their funnel webs over gas pumps, street lights and mail boxes.
Apparently, bright lights and noise do not have the same effect on the Joro as with other spider species, which will hide or move away to avoid such nuisances, and that made researchers at the University of Georgia curious.
Researchers tested 450 species of spider by exposing them to a “brief and harmless” disturbance. Almost all of the species would freeze for a few brief moments and the attempts to either flee or attack; however, the Joro spiders could not be bothered and would remain motionless for as long as an hour.
It was concluded that while the Joro may be large and look intimidating, it is not aggressive at all. Also, while the spiders do have venom, their fangs are extremely small compared to the spiders overall size and are not a threat to humans or pets.
The spider’s timidity is also the reason researchers say the species is invasive, but unlike the pythons in the Everglades, the Joro are not a threat to the environment because they do not compete with other species for food.
In fact, the Joro tend to seek out places that other species avoid.
According to the UGA study, the reason for the proliferation of the species is because they have a robust reproductive cycle and what started as maybe a handful of stowaways, quickly spread into the millions.
The Joro is also featured in Japanese folklore in the form of the Jorōgumo, a human-sized spider with magical powers.
The legend goes that the Jorōgumo can transform into a beautiful seductress that is too stunning for any man to resist. However; when the potential mate gets too close, the Jorōgumo unleashes her silk and the hapless victim learns he is on the menu for dinner.
It is kind of ironic that such a tame creature could foster up such a fearsome legend.
Researchers say that the Joro is here to stay, and if anything, they provide the service of trapping the flies that hang out near the convenience store trash can.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter and Editorial Page Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
