General Discussion
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https://www.mlive.com/news/2022/03/this-giant-venomous-joro-spider-is-spreading-quickly-across-parts-of-us.html?outputType=amp
Initech
(100,099 posts)Strelnikov_
(7,772 posts)Cattledog
(5,917 posts)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
(16,178 posts)about kudzu....
Strelnikov_
(7,772 posts)"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
(146,325 posts)A colorful bigass spider. What would be worse?
broiles
(1,370 posts)MineralMan
(146,325 posts)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.
nope
Ilsa
(61,697 posts)I've read that their bite can be painful.
Their web has a lovely golden thread in it.