Site Moderator TalonRider Posted June 5 Site Moderator Posted June 5 11 hours ago, Bill W said: Venomous flying spiders with 4-inch legs spread across East Coast LI COHEN Updated June 4, 2024 at 5:27 PM First came the spotted lanternflies, then the cicadas — and now, the spiders? The Northeast U.S. is bracing for an invasion of giant venomous spiders with 4-inch-long legs that can parachute through the air. Earlier this year, New Jersey Pest Control warned of the incoming spiders, saying Joro spiders will be "hard to miss" as females have a leg span of up to 4 inches and are known for their vibrant yellow and grey bodies. "What sets them apart, however, is their ability to fly, a trait uncommon among spiders," the company said. "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." A Joro spider / Credit: Dave Coyle/Clemson University José R. Ramírez-Garofalo, an ecologist at Rutgers University's Lockwood Lab and the president of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods on Staten Island, told SI Live that "it is a matter of when, not if" the spiders arrive in New York and New Jersey. A peer-reviewed study published last October by invasive species expert David Coyle found that the invasive species is "here to stay." The arachnids are native to Asia, but were introduced to north Georgia around 2010, the study said, and are continuing to spread. Experts have warned that the spiders could spread to New York since 2022, but none have been detected – yet. "Anyone that doesn't sort of like all the creepy crawly things, this has all of the characteristics that makes them squeamish," Coyle previously told CBS News, saying a press release that "data show that this spider is going to be able to inhabit most of the eastern U.S.." "It shows that their comfort area in their native range matches up very well with much of North America." People have reported seeing Joro spiders across much of the eastern U.S., including in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Ohio. New York happens to be "right in the middle of where they like to be," University of Georgia researcher Andy Davis told The New York Times in December. He believes the spiders could pop up across New York and neighboring states this summer – aka any day now. "They seem to be OK with living in a city," Davis added, saying he has seen Joro spiders on street lamps and telephone polls, where "regular spiders wouldn't be caught dead in." The arachnids are venomous, but Coyle says that they do not pose a danger to humans. That venom, he said, is reserved for the critters that get caught up in their webs, including butterflies, wasps and cockroaches. They could also pose a threat to native spiders. "We have no evidence that they've done any damage to a person or a pet," he said. Heard about this on the local Fox News this morning. Hopefully, I won't see any Northwest of Philly. 2 1 1
Site Moderator TalonRider Posted June 5 Site Moderator Posted June 5 11 hours ago, Bill W said: Venomous flying spiders with 4-inch legs spread across East Coast LI COHEN Updated June 4, 2024 at 5:27 PM First came the spotted lanternflies, then the cicadas — and now, the spiders? The Northeast U.S. is bracing for an invasion of giant venomous spiders with 4-inch-long legs that can parachute through the air. Earlier this year, New Jersey Pest Control warned of the incoming spiders, saying Joro spiders will be "hard to miss" as females have a leg span of up to 4 inches and are known for their vibrant yellow and grey bodies. "What sets them apart, however, is their ability to fly, a trait uncommon among spiders," the company said. "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." A Joro spider / Credit: Dave Coyle/Clemson University José R. Ramírez-Garofalo, an ecologist at Rutgers University's Lockwood Lab and the president of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods on Staten Island, told SI Live that "it is a matter of when, not if" the spiders arrive in New York and New Jersey. A peer-reviewed study published last October by invasive species expert David Coyle found that the invasive species is "here to stay." The arachnids are native to Asia, but were introduced to north Georgia around 2010, the study said, and are continuing to spread. Experts have warned that the spiders could spread to New York since 2022, but none have been detected – yet. "Anyone that doesn't sort of like all the creepy crawly things, this has all of the characteristics that makes them squeamish," Coyle previously told CBS News, saying a press release that "data show that this spider is going to be able to inhabit most of the eastern U.S.." "It shows that their comfort area in their native range matches up very well with much of North America." People have reported seeing Joro spiders across much of the eastern U.S., including in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Ohio. New York happens to be "right in the middle of where they like to be," University of Georgia researcher Andy Davis told The New York Times in December. He believes the spiders could pop up across New York and neighboring states this summer – aka any day now. "They seem to be OK with living in a city," Davis added, saying he has seen Joro spiders on street lamps and telephone polls, where "regular spiders wouldn't be caught dead in." The arachnids are venomous, but Coyle says that they do not pose a danger to humans. That venom, he said, is reserved for the critters that get caught up in their webs, including butterflies, wasps and cockroaches. They could also pose a threat to native spiders. "We have no evidence that they've done any damage to a person or a pet," he said. Heard about this on the local Fox News this morning. Hopefully, I won't see any Northwest of Philly. 2
Bill W Posted June 6 Posted June 6 1 hour ago, sandrewn said: The reverse Spiderman. Not to save lives, but to take them. 2
Bill W Posted June 6 Posted June 6 An update: Joro spiders are back in the news. Here's what the experts really think about them MELINA WALLING Updated June 5, 2024 at 7:17 PM A large, brightly colored invasive species called the Joro spider is on the move in the United States. Populations have been growing in parts of the South and East Coast for years, and many researchers think it's only a matter of time before they spread to much of the continental U.S. But spider experts say we shouldn’t be too worried about them. “My sense is people like the weird and fantastic and potentially dangerous,” said David Nelsen, a professor of biology at Southern Adventist University who has studied the growing range of Joro spiders. “This is one of those things that sort of checks all the boxes for public hysteria.” Scientists instead worry about the growing prevalence of invasive species that can do damage to our crops and trees — a problem made worse by global trade and climate change, which is making local environmental conditions more comfortable for pests that previously couldn't survive frigid winters. “I think this is one of those ‘canary in the coal mine’ type species where it’s showy, it's getting a lot of attention," said Hannah Burrack, professor and chair of the entomology department at Michigan State University. But the shy critter poses little risk to humans. Instead, Burrack said, introduced pests like fruit flies and tree borers can do more damage. “This is a global concern, because it makes all the things that we do in terms of conservation, in terms of agricultural production, in terms of human health, harder to manage," she said. WHAT IS THE JORO SPIDER? The Joro spider is one of a group of spiders called orb-weavers, named for their wheel-shaped webs. They're native to East Asia, have bright yellow and black coloring and can grow as long as three inches (8 cm) when their legs are fully extended. However, they’re pretty hard to spot at this time of year because they’re still early in their life cycle, only about the size of a grain of rice. A trained eye can spot their softball-sized webs on a front porch, or their gossamer threads of golden silk blanketing the grass. Adults are most commonly seen in August and September. WHERE ARE THEY HEADED? Scientists are still trying to figure that out, said David Coyle, an assistant professor at Clemson University who worked with Nelsen on a study on the Joro's range, published last November. Their central population is primarily in Atlanta but expanding to the Carolinas and southeastern Tennessee. A satellite population has taken hold in Baltimore over the last two years, Coyle said. As for when the species will become more prevalent in the Northeast, an eventual outcome suggested by their research? “Maybe this year, maybe a decade, we really don’t know,” he said. “They’re probably not going to get that far in a single year. It’s going to take a bunch of incremental steps.” CAN THEY FLY? The babies can: using a tactic called “ballooning," young Joro spiders can use their webs to harness the winds and electromagnetic currents of the Earth to travel relatively long distances. But you won't see fully-grown Joro spiders taking flight. WHAT DO THEY EAT? Joro spiders will eat whatever lands in their web, which mainly ends up being insects. That could mean they'll compete with native spiders for food, but it might not all be bad — a Joro's daily catch could also feed native bird species, something Andy Davis, a research scientist at the University of Georgia, has personally documented. As for some observers' hope that Joro spiders could gobble up the invasive spotted lanternflies destroying trees on the East Coast? They might eat a few, but there's “zero chance" they'll make a dent in the population, Coyle said. ARE THEY DANGEROUS TO HUMANS? Joro spiders have venom like all spiders, but they aren't deadly or even medically relevant to humans, Nelsen said. At worst, a Joro bite might itch or cause an allergic reaction. But the shy creatures tend to stay out of humans' way. What could one day truly cause damage to humans is the widespread introduction of other creatures like the emerald ash borer or a fruit fly called the spotted wing drosophila that threaten the natural resources we rely upon. “I try to stay scientifically objective about it. And that’s a way to protect myself from maybe the sadness of it. But there’s so much ecological damage being done all over the world for, for so many reasons, mostly because of humans,” Davis said. “This to me is just one more example of mankind's influence on the environment.” 2
sandrewn Posted June 8 Posted June 8 ii On 6/6/2024 at 11:05 AM, Bill W said: An update: Joro spiders are back in the news. Here's what the experts really think about them MELINA WALLING Updated June 5, 2024 at 7:17 PM A large, brightly colored invasive species called the Joro spider is on the move in the United States. Populations have been growing in parts of the South and East Coast for years, and many researchers think it's only a matter of time before they spread to much of the continental U.S. But spider experts say we shouldn’t be too worried about them. “My sense is people like the weird and fantastic and potentially dangerous,” said David Nelsen, a professor of biology at Southern Adventist University who has studied the growing range of Joro spiders. “This is one of those things that sort of checks all the boxes for public hysteria.” Scientists instead worry about the growing prevalence of invasive species that can do damage to our crops and trees — a problem made worse by global trade and climate change, which is making local environmental conditions more comfortable for pests that previously couldn't survive frigid winters. “I think this is one of those ‘canary in the coal mine’ type species where it’s showy, it's getting a lot of attention," said Hannah Burrack, professor and chair of the entomology department at Michigan State University. But the shy critter poses little risk to humans. Instead, Burrack said, introduced pests like fruit flies and tree borers can do more damage. “This is a global concern, because it makes all the things that we do in terms of conservation, in terms of agricultural production, in terms of human health, harder to manage," she said. WHAT IS THE JORO SPIDER? The Joro spider is one of a group of spiders called orb-weavers, named for their wheel-shaped webs. They're native to East Asia, have bright yellow and black coloring and can grow as long as three inches (8 cm) when their legs are fully extended. However, they’re pretty hard to spot at this time of year because they’re still early in their life cycle, only about the size of a grain of rice. A trained eye can spot their softball-sized webs on a front porch, or their gossamer threads of golden silk blanketing the grass. Adults are most commonly seen in August and September. WHERE ARE THEY HEADED? Scientists are still trying to figure that out, said David Coyle, an assistant professor at Clemson University who worked with Nelsen on a study on the Joro's range, published last November. Their central population is primarily in Atlanta but expanding to the Carolinas and southeastern Tennessee. A satellite population has taken hold in Baltimore over the last two years, Coyle said. As for when the species will become more prevalent in the Northeast, an eventual outcome suggested by their research? “Maybe this year, maybe a decade, we really don’t know,” he said. “They’re probably not going to get that far in a single year. It’s going to take a bunch of incremental steps.” CAN THEY FLY? The babies can: using a tactic called “ballooning," young Joro spiders can use their webs to harness the winds and electromagnetic currents of the Earth to travel relatively long distances. But you won't see fully-grown Joro spiders taking flight. WHAT DO THEY EAT? Joro spiders will eat whatever lands in their web, which mainly ends up being insects. That could mean they'll compete with native spiders for food, but it might not all be bad — a Joro's daily catch could also feed native bird species, something Andy Davis, a research scientist at the University of Georgia, has personally documented. As for some observers' hope that Joro spiders could gobble up the invasive spotted lanternflies destroying trees on the East Coast? They might eat a few, but there's “zero chance" they'll make a dent in the population, Coyle said. ARE THEY DANGEROUS TO HUMANS? Joro spiders have venom like all spiders, but they aren't deadly or even medically relevant to humans, Nelsen said. At worst, a Joro bite might itch or cause an allergic reaction. But the shy creatures tend to stay out of humans' way. What could one day truly cause damage to humans is the widespread introduction of other creatures like the emerald ash borer or a fruit fly called the spotted wing drosophila that threaten the natural resources we rely upon. “I try to stay scientifically objective about it. And that’s a way to protect myself from maybe the sadness of it. But there’s so much ecological damage being done all over the world for, for so many reasons, mostly because of humans,” Davis said. “This to me is just one more example of mankind's influence on the environment.” This is some info from the article that Bill posted. Specifically, the Emerald Ash Borer. The City of Montreal is known for its landscape. More than 200,000 ash trees make up nearly half of the city’s treescape, and one quarter of those (or 50,000 trees) are on public lands. Montreal Increases Pesticide Treatment by 6300% Annually - Eos 1
Bill W Posted June 8 Posted June 8 1 hour ago, sandrewn said: ii This is some info from the article that Bill posted. Specifically, the Emerald Ash Borer. The City of Montreal is known for its landscape. More than 200,000 ash trees make up nearly half of the city’s treescape, and one quarter of those (or 50,000 trees) are on public lands. Montreal Increases Pesticide Treatment by 6300% Annually - Eos Yikes. It's making me wonder if these species merely made it here under their own power or if some enterprising individuals brought them here hoping to make a small fortune selling them, without knowing what they were actually capable of. I hope that's not the case - a disaster of our own making. 1 1
Bill W Posted June 12 Posted June 12 1 hour ago, sandrewn said: crippled spider with half its legs - YouTube But that doesn't look like an itsy bitsy spider. 2 1
Bill W Posted June 16 Posted June 16 33 minutes ago, sandrewn said: A repeat, worth repeating! I'll admit that I'm not as quick to kill a spider when I see it, as long as they stay out of my bedroom. 2
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