With summer, temperatures increase and this becomes the ideal scenario for some species such as Joro spiders, known for their ability to fly and for being large in size, compared to other species of arachnids. This season, it is very likely that they will reach New York and New Jersey.
Spiders, whose scientific name is Trichonophila clavata, have striking colors and can measure up to 10 centimeters long. As if this were not enough, they are very resistant and can withstand the weight of a bird, according to the portal. National Geographic.
Since then, the Joro have spread through Georgia and other states; Due to their characteristics, it is natural that they cause anguish and fear among the inhabitants of the communities where they have been seen. However, Everything seems to indicate that there is no reason to be alarmed.
It is important to clarify that Although the Joro are capable of moving in the wind, they do not have a mechanism in their structure to do so., according to scientific research. Their ‘flight’ is similar to that of hot air balloons, that is, they are so light that they are capable of being carried by the wind in areas with slopes.
“The spread pattern of the Joro spider suggests that it is primarily driven by natural dispersal mechanisms, such as balloon flight, a process by which spiders move through the air releasing gossamer threads to catch the wind and fly, at the mercy of air currents and electric fieldsalthough human-mediated transport cannot be ruled out,” explained the scientist David Coyle.
Joro spiders do not pose a danger to humans or pets, scientists explained.
Photo:
Are the Joro spiders, which are coming to New York, dangerous?
“These spiders don’t seem to care what falls into their web; They are just as likely to eat brown marbled stink bugs as a monarch butterfly. Saying that they are more beneficial than another spider is simply incorrect: they are a spider and if something gets caught in their web, they will eat it. And they don’t care if it’s a rare native pollinator and there are only a few left in the world or if it’s a brown marmorated stink bug,” Coyle explains in the article published by Clemson.
According to Coyle, the Joro also have no intention of affecting pets and only attack when they feel threatened, and in any case, It has fangs that would not be able to penetrate human skin. The Joro weave their webs outside the houses, so this should not represent any threat to the population either.
The real threat of the Joro
“These are not just benign spiders that come to catch and kill bad things; They are driving out native species and trapping and killing everything in their nets.”Coyle said. “Are they good or bad? It has many nuances depending on your perspective.”
“Because of how far the Joros have spread and how quickly they continue to spread, Collaboration is vital for a project like this to be successful. Both collaboration between institutes and with local communities. I think one of our greatest successes is that we have been able to assemble a team spread across the southern United States and partner with various non-academic groups and individuals,” Nelsen said.
Which US states have Joro spiders?
As of October 2022, the Joro range covered at least 120,000 square kilometers and is located in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee, with reports of sightings in Alabama, Maryland, Oklahoma and West Virginia. Now, it is estimated that they will be in New York and New Jersey as well.
#spiders #capable #flight #arrive #summer #York #Jersey
