Covid,Trump,Giant wasps, Ukraine - NOW, the Joro spider

[packman]

https://www.mlive.com/news/2022/03/this-giant-venomous-joro-spider-is-spreading-quickly-across-parts-of-us.html?outputType=amp

[Initech]

1. That thing looks like it could kill you by looking at you.

[Strelnikov_]

2. Seeing a remake! Looking at you, Samuel L. n/t

[Cattledog]

3. We've had them here in GA for a while.

They are harmless and have no negative ecological impact according to the U. of GA. They eat stink bugs and yellow jackets. They do make some large crazy webs though.

[onethatcares]

5. that's what they said

about kudzu....

[Strelnikov_]

4. They eat stink bugs!

"As of 2020, their impact on their new ecosystem is unknown. They have been observed catching the brown marmorated stink bug, another invasive species that native spiders have not been known to eat, and some researchers reportedly hope these spiders also will consume mosquitoes and flies."

"Although the spider is not aggressive, they will bite to protect themselves. The bite is considered quite painful, but not life-threatening."

[MineralMan]

6. Ah, More Horror for Arachnophobes.

A colorful bigass spider. What would be worse?

[broiles]

7. Stink bugs and lots of mosquitos!

I like spiders.

[MineralMan]

10. I met my first marmorated stink bug this past summer.

A few showed up on the balcony deck at our house. They're sort of cute, really. Little shield-shaped bugs. Friendly, too. I put my finger down in front of one and it climbed right on and let me examine it closely for a while. Then it flew clumsily off. I can't really see that it's anything but another small, interesting insect.

I like spiders, too. If it's alive and moves, I'll watch it. I'm not bothered by such things at all.

[Afrocat]

8. nope

nope

[Ilsa]

9. We have them in our backyard.

I've read that their bite can be painful.

Their web has a lovely golden thread in it.