An invasive species of flying venomous spiders is set to soon invade a major US city, and experts are highlighting the features that identify the poisonous arachnids.
Residents in New York and New Jersey are gearing up for the arrival of the Joro spider, a species of giant arachnid known to fly around.
A spokesperson for New Jersey Pest Control told CBS News: “What sets them apart… is their ability to fly, a trait uncommon among spiders.
“While not accurate flight in the avian sense, Joro spiders utilize a technique known as ballooning, where they release silk threads into the air, allowing them to be carried by the wind.”
The creatures have been spreading around the eastern seaboard and are heading to the Northeast.
Female Joro spiders, identifiable by their bright yellow and gray bodies, have leg spans of up to four inches and use their silk webs to create balloon shapes that allow them to travel through the air.
Originally from East Asia, the Joro spider was first spotted in North America in Georgia in 2010, likely having arrived via shipping containers.
Since then, they have spread to Florida, the Carolinas, Ohio, Maryland, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Experts believe the northern climate is ideal for Joro spiders, leading many to expect they will soon appear in New York City.
An ecologist at Rutgers University’s Lockwood Lab said: “It’s a matter of when, not if,” said José R. Ramírez-Garofalo.”
The spiders have been known to hang from telephone poles and street lamps, said David Coyle, an invasive species expert.
He added: “They seem to be OK with living in a city.”
Despite the creatures being venomous, experts say they aren’t lethal to humans or animals. They are mostly known for eating other spiders and bugs.
Mr Coyle added: “We have no evidence that they’ve done any damage to a person or a pet.”
