North Georgia has been invaded by millions of giant spiders, causing fear and destruction to residents.
The dense, wheel-shaped webs, which are native to East Asia, have covered more than 25 counties of California with bright yellow Joro spiders (Trichonephilaclavata).
In 2014, the first of the three-inch (7.6 cm) spiders was found 80 miles (or 128 km) northeast of Atlanta. It likely traveled there in a shipping container, Rick Hoebeke who is the collections manager at Georgia Museum of Natural History stated in a statement.
Similar: Photos of bat-eating spiders
The spider's range and population have increased steadily since then. However, nothing could have prepared researchers or residents for the sheer number of spiders that they would encounter this year.
Will Hudson, an University of Georgia entomologist, claimed that his porch was unusable after it was covered with webs 10 feet (3 meters) thick. He also claims to have killed over 300 spiders.
The web of the Joro spider. (University of Georgia).
Hudson stated in the statement that "Last year there were dozens and they became a nuisance when we were doing yard work." "This year I have many hundred and it makes the place look creepy with all the webs. It's almost like an episode of 'Arachnophobia.
Joro spiders can be found in Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Japan, and China. They are part of an order of spiders called "orb weavers" due to their highly symmetrical, circular webs. Although they are venomous they only use it to immobilize prey that they have entrapped in their webs. The venom is not harmful to humans, dogs, or cats unless they are allergic. Although spiders can bite if they feel threatened, their bites rarely cause severe skin damage.
Although most of Georgia's Joro Spiders will die by November, this is not the end of their existence. Experts believe that the spiders may spread further to other states that have similar climates, now that they have established a foothold in the US. Female Joros lay eggs that are spun with silk and contain at most 400 babies. The hatchlings ride on silk strands and glide across vast distances like baby spiders from the E.B. Charlotte's Web, a white novel.
Many invasive species can cause havoc in the ecosystems they invade. However, some scientists believe that spiders may actually be beneficial. Nancy Hinkle, an University of Georgia entomologist, stated that Joro spiders kill biting flies, mosquitoes and brown marmorated stink bug invasive brown marmorated bugs. These pests have no natural predators and can cause crop damage.
"Joro Spiders offer us excellent opportunities to suppress pests naturally without chemical chemicals so I'm trying convince people that having zillions upon zillions large spiders and their webs about is a good thing!" In the statement, Hinkle stated.
Similar content:
Goliath Birdeater: Pictures of a massive spider
Amazing and bizarre: 9 strange spiders
These are some of the strangest facts about animals
Live Science originally published this article. You can read the original article here.
