[Animals] How dangerous is the Joro spider, the species that invades the east coast of the United States

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ince a decade ago, a species of spider from East Asia became endemic to an area of the United States. It is called Joro, and a new study revealed that it could po[CENSORED]te most of the east coast of that country. Although they have a menacing appearance and very striking colors, they are not particularly dangerous, but they do cause fear due to their size, as they can be as big as the palm of your hand.

 

The invasion of this spider, native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan and parts of China, began in 2014, when it arrived in the country in a container and began to occupy parts of the states of Georgia and South Carolina. Thanks to the similarity in the climate between Asia and the east coast of the country, he adapted easily.

 

 

“There really is no reason to crush them,” Benjamin Frick, co-author of a study conducted by the University of Georgia on this species, explained to USA Today. The researcher commented that it was due to human movement (boat trips) that the spider reached the United States.

 

Likewise, the expert commented that the arachnid does not represent a real threat to humans, nor to pets or local fauna. In fact, the spider would help control certain insects and more harmful invasive species.

 

 

In that sense, these arachnids - known for launching golden and shiny webs - are usually especially large, and can measure up to eight centimeters, the equivalent of the palm of the human hand.
What is the origin of the name of this spider

Frequent in South Asia, the Joro specimen is part of a group of spiders known as "orb weavers", this is because their circular webs are highly symmetrical. The origin of its name comes from the Jorōgumo or Yōkai spirits, both creatures belonging to Japanese folklore. Legend has it that it is about a demon who is said to disguise himself as a beautiful woman to hunt down gullible men.