Big, Invasive Parachuting Spiders Will Begin To Cover Entire East Coast

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2022/03/04/big-invasive-parachuting-spiders-will-begin-to-cover-entire-east-coast-experts-say/


*snip*

“A big no!” said Donneisha Match

“Oh lord Jesus,” said Gregory Lightfoot.

University of Georgia scientists have released a study saying our new eight-legged residents are about to become even more prolific in Georgia and spread up and down the entire East Coast.

“No predators, it doesn’t have anything that’s controlling its population size in the new habitat, but it has perfect conditions to spread,” said Benjamin Frick, co-author of the study and an undergraduate at Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia.

Originally from Japan, the 3-inch long Joro Spider made its way first to Georgia, but it has begun to slowly spread out.

Scientists say it will continue to do so because of its ability to survive the cold.

*snip*


I do have "Big, Invasive Parachuting Spiders Will Begin To Cover Entire East Coast" on my 2022 BINGO card.....Yay!

[Martin68]

1. Total BS. That photo os not of a "parachuting spider." It is a common garden spider.

[NewHendoLib]

4. The Joro spider is quite something different - they are in northern Georgia

I was in a friend's garden in Alpharetta - the Joros were all over the place - webs much larger and spiders in much larger "clusters" than the garden spider. I think there are lots of folks watching to see how far outward they will spread.

[Mariana]

10. Common garden spider and Joro spider:

[smirkymonkey]

2. No fucking way!

I HATE spiders and completely freak out at the sight of them. I am the type of person who would burn a house down just to get rid of insects.

I know that makes me a total pansy, but it's just an inborn fear that I have never been able to overcome. I can't stand insects in general, but spiders particularly creep me out. I would much rather put up with rodents than with insects.

I can at least somewhat relate to little furry creatures and have compassion for them. I will often give a ladybug or some other less creepy looking insect their freedom outside, but certain insects just set off the "kill" instinct in me.

[smirkymonkey]

3. No fucking way!

I HATE spiders and completely freak out at the sight of them. I am the type of person who would burn a house down just to get rid of insects.

I know that makes me a total pansy, but it's just an inborn fear that I have never been able to overcome. I can't stand insects in general, but spiders particularly creep me out. I would much rather put up with rodents than with insects.

I can at least somewhat relate to little furry creatures and have compassion for them. I will often give a ladybug or some other less creepy looking insect their freedom outside, but certain insects just set off the "kill" instinct in me.

[IcyPeas]

5. looks like a cross between a spider and a bee

I don't actually hate spiders... as long as they keep their distance. but this one is downright pretty.

[dem4decades]

6. They have the Maryland colors, they can stay there.

[Blaukraut]

7. If they eat mosquitoes and other pests, they can come up here n/t

[Nevilledog]

8. Sure....that's how it starts. Then they move up to poodles.

[Blaukraut]

9. Poodles are okay. I draw the line at Italian Greyhounds, though n/t

[EndlessWire]

25. LOL! n/t

[Solly Mack]

11. It is very pretty.

[Duppers]

12. There is a type of bat that eats ....

..all kinds of insects, including spiders.

I do not understand why people hate bats!

[GoCubsGo]

18. Most of the bat species in the US eat nothing but insects.

The rest eat fruit, nectar, and pollen. One can only hope they'll put a dent in the invasive spider population, along with birds.

I don't understand why people hate bats, either. I think they're one of the coolest animals out there!

[NickB79]

20. Bats are rapidly dying out from white nose fungus

I wonder if the Joro spiders are spreading so rapidly because there aren't enough bats left to keep insect populations under control.

[Buckeyeblue]

24. Because the end up getting in attics and garages.

And they are the highest carrier of rabies of any mamal. I get that they eat mosquitoes but they are a bio hazard to humans.

[LuckyCharms]

13. The pictures don't tell the entire story.

Weight: 40 to 70 pounds
Leg span: 6 feet

Their colorful abdomens contains up to sixteen fully grown murder wasps, which the spider can deploy at will.

The parachuting spider often will make a loud "barking/screaming" noise just before attacking.

The sound of their footsteps has been compared to that of a fully grown human's footsteps.

Most of these spiders carry rabies.

They are attracted by the thousands from miles away, to any type of music. They will swarm the source of the music and do what scientists refer to as a "murder dance".

Source of this information: Facebook

[panader0]

17. Thanks for this valuable information Lucky!

I'll be on the roof of two story house sharpening my chainsaw.

[Mr. Ected]

22. This is very, very funny LuckyCharms.

I wanted you to know that great humor always trumps arachnophobia, or at least until the barking/screaming invasion commences.

[Celerity]

14. I love spiders. These are harmless to humans and eat a shedload of pests.

[panader0]

21. Where I live we have tarantulas, which I like, and black widows and brown recluse,

that I'm not so fond of. When I first bought my land here in Az, I camped for a long time
before I built a place to live. Lots of spiders and I never got bit. The scorpions were not so kind,
and tagged me a few times.

[betsuni]

15. I hate spiders but LOVE those. They're pretty.

At first I was afraid of them because they're big, but found out the females are the big pretty ones and perfectly harmless. You go, girl.

[LiberatedUSA]

16. Can we at least send planes to help fight off the spiders? N/t

[NickB79]

19. Flamethrowers are legal to own in 48 states, FYI

[Vinca]

23. As long as they're harmless, they'll just be a nuisance. Besides, they'll have to compete

with the deer ticks, stink bugs and assorted beetles that eat trees, flowers and vegetables.