What families need to know

Flying spiders are heading to New York: here’s what families need to know

Another humid New York summer is coming, which means we can expect the usual summer critters: mosquitoes, spotted lanternflies, crickets, etc. Well, it’s time to add a new critter to the list; Joro spiders – which will happen soon to fly to New York. You read that right; these are FLYING Spiders.

While the news about these aerial arachnids is something us New Yorkers are not excited about (understatement of the year), we have just enough time to prepare before they make their way into our area. Here’s everything you need to know about Joro spiders, along with our must-read tip for families on dealing with any fears that may arise in your little ones.

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About Joro spiders

Let’s delve into the world of Joro spiders, also known as Trichonephila Clavata. These large yellow and blue-black spiders are not the typical New York arachnids. In fact, they stand out even in the United States because of their size, four-inch legs, and vibrant yellow colors that are hard to miss. The unique combination of their size and ability to ‘fly’ makes them a fascinating species that may seem intimidating, but may not be as terrifying as they seem.

Let’s back up for a moment and answer a question many may be asking: Can these spiders really fly? Short answer: yes, but different than you might think. More specifically, young Joro spiders travel by ‘ballooning’. Ballooning is a tactic that some young spiders, including young Joro spiders, use to travel. They spin their silk thread and can catch a current of air and fly. Think of Spider-Man moving through the Spider-Verse of Queens. And this is very specific to young Joro spiders. So while they can fly, they don’t do so for their entire life, which is about a year. When Joro spiders reach maturity and adulthood, they become too heavy to fly or catch a current of air, so it’s highly unlikely you’ll see a giant Joro spider flying through New York this summer.

Are Joro spiders dangerous?

Joro spiders do not yet pose any threat to people or pets. Although they carry venom, they often use it only on their prey. A major reason why Joro spiders have successfully spread in the United States is that they are quite timid. According to a 2023 study: Startle responses of Jorō spiders, Joro spiders “may be the shyest spiders ever documented,” said Andrew Davis, lead author of the study and a research scientist at UGA’s Odom School of Ecology.

The study observed the reaction times of arachnid species and focused on the reaction times of Joro spiders; It turns out that while most of the spider species they observed responded quite quickly by freezing and moving on after about a minute, the Joro spiders froze and stayed frozen for up to an hour before moving on and continuing where they were. were working on.

This means that if you come into contact with one of these spiders, chances are they are more afraid of you than you are of them. They will probably freeze completely and give you enough time to get as far away as you need to.

Although these flying spiders carry venom, most scientists who study this species have found that their bite is about as harmful as a bee sting to us. Although a Joro spider is unlikely to bite you, like any other animal they can bite if provoked. But research has shown that at most it can cause an allergic reaction. We recommend that you talk to your doctor about the proper health care steps to deal with a bite.

Joro spiders are surprising, but fortunately not harmful. Unfortunately, for those who may not be fans of spiders in general, they are here to stay. They have been living in Georgia for a few years now and because they are an invasive species, they have successfully begun to spread throughout several locations in the United States. According to Davis, we can expect to see them in New York soon.

How did Joro Spiders end up in New York?

The flying spiders were first spotted in Hoschton, Georgia in 2013 and are believed to have come to the US from Asia in a shipping container. They have since settled in Georgia and are now seen in other states.

Our tip for families

Our biggest tip for families is simply to stay informed. It’s important to remember that “invasive” and “aggressive” are not synonymous Amitesh Anerao, points out co-author of the startle response study and an undergraduate researcher at the University of Georgia. Their research shows that Joro spiders are shy and relatively harmless.

Although these spiders can grow large and may not be what we are used to, they are harmless and will likely freeze if you come into contact with them. We do not recommend approaching a Joro spider, but we would like to reassure our readers that there is nothing to fear.

Like the spotted lanternflies that came to New York in 2020 and have since become frequent summer visitors, Joro spiders are heading to New York and here to stay.

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