Until recently , Americanarachnophobescould rest assured that the nearly 3 - inch - longJoro spiderwas more or less ensconced in its native East Asia . But in 2014 , Georgia Museum of Natural History compendium manager Rick Hoebeke substantiate that they ’d been spot in Georgia , possibly having hitched a ride on shipping container .
The yellowed - corporate orb weavers have been busybodied since then . As HuffPostreports , the Peach State is now home to millions of Joro spiders , and they ’ve pass over the delimitation into South Carolina , too . “ Last twelvemonth , there were piles of spiders [ on my property ] , and they begin to be something of a nuisance when I was doing yard oeuvre , ” University of Georgia bug-hunter Will Hudson said in a UGApress expiration . “ This year , I have several hundred , and they actually make the place look spooky with all the mussy webs — like a view out ofArachnophobia . ”
But while the concern ofArachnophobia ’s characters examine to be justified , scientists emphasize that humans have nothing tofearfrom the harmless nightwalker . And despite the population detonation , this particularinvasive specieshasn’t done any observable damage to the local wildlife .
In fact , you might even consider the Joro spider that ’s coif up workshop in your porch corner to be a welcome guest . accord to UGA bugologist Nancy Hinkle , they may aid keep mosquitoes and seize with teeth tent flap at bay , and unlike some other spider species , they ’re felicitous to gobble down a particularly reviled pest : brown marmorated stink bug .
“ Joro spiders present us with excellent opportunity to suppress pestilence by nature , without chemical , so I ’m trying to convince people that get zillions of large spiders and their webs around is a near thing ! ” Hinkle say .
But dodging zillions of great wanderer and their web is far from ideal , and the bug-hunter have no qualms about squashing a few — or a few hundred . Hudson recommends using a rake to transfer the spider and its vane to the footing , stomping on the spider , and “ repeat[ing ] as necessary . ” You could also merely douse them in insecticide .
Or , you could let them all hunker down for another month or so . After all , as Hoebeke pointed out , “ Halloweenis come up , so we all have hunky-dory , natural decorations for the kiddos to enjoy . ”
[ h / tHuffPost ]
