Venomous flying spiders with 4-inch legs spread across East Coast

Giant venomous flying spiders with 4-inch legs have been reported to be spreading across the East Coast, sparking concern among residents and interest from experts. The Joro spider, a large spider native to East Asia, has been spotted in states such as Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, and experts predict that they will soon be seen in the New York area as well. The Joro spider, also known as the Jorōgumo in Japanese folklore, is a palm-size arachnid that has the unique ability to fly by forming parachutes out of their webs and can travel up to 100 miles through the wind.

First spotted in Georgia in 2013, the Joro spider has since spread across the state and other parts of the Southeast. The species is believed to have arrived in the United States around 2013, likely riding on shipping containers. Their population has flourished since then, with millions of the arachnids draping porches, power lines, mailboxes, and vegetable patches across at least 25 state counties with webs as thick as 10 feet deep.

Despite their alarming appearance and venomous nature, Joro spiders are generally harmless to people and pets. Their venom is reserved for the critters who get caught up in their webs, and experts say there is no need to harm the spiders as efforts to eradicate the species would be in vain. Joro spiders feed on adult brown marmorated stink bugs, an invasive pest that infests houses and damages crops, and because wasps and birds like to eat Joro spiders, they provide an additional food source to native predators.

Experts have also found that Joro spiders are surprisingly “urban tolerant,” which could enable them to take over cities and other urban areas across the U.S. East Coast. Their ability to survive in colder temperatures and their resilience to the vibrations caused by busy roads make them well-suited to urban environments.

In conclusion, while the spread of Joro spiders across the East Coast is concerning to many, experts and researchers believe that these spiders are generally harmless and could even be beneficial in controlling other invasive species.