Giant Joro Spiders Are Spreading Across Georgia and Scientists Say Don’t Panic
I know the headline sounds terrifying. Giant spiders spreading across Georgia? But before you plan your move to Antarctica, let me explain what were actually dealing with because the reality is a lot less scary than the clickbait suggests.
The Joro spider is an invasive species from East Asia that first showed up in northern Georgia around 2014. Theyre big – females can have a leg span of three or four inches. They spin massive golden webs. And yes, theyre spreading across Georgia and into neighboring states.
But heres the thing – theyre not dangerous to humans. Their venom is weak. Their fangs can barely penetrate human skin. National Geographic has documented how the species has established itself in the southeastern United States and experts emphasize that fear is not warranted.
UGA researchers have studied how these spiders might actually help control pest populations by eating mosquitoes and stink bugs.
They can tolerate cold weather better than other invasive spiders, which means they could spread further north. Climate change and the spread of invasive species are increasingly linked.
What should you do if you encounter one? Nothing. Leave it alone. It will leave you alone. I get that spiders freak people out. But from a medical standpoint, Joro spiders are far from the worst thing spreading across our landscapes.
