SCIENTISTS are concerned that large invasive spiders could spread across the US East Coast.
The giant Jorō spiders are native to Asia but have already been spotted in a few US states.
Experts have observed that the palm-sized creatures have the ability to thrive in cities and along major roads.
Researchers from the University of Georgia recently tested how the spiders react to living in these areas.
They particularly focussed on whether busy traffic can affect how the spiders catch prey.
The study has been published in the journal Arthropoda.
“An invasive orb-weaving spider from east Asia is now spreading through the southeastern United States; Trichonephila clavata (the “jorō spider”) makes large, imposing webs seemingly everywhere, including in urban landscapes, and even next to busy roads,” the researchers wrote.
“Jorō spiders appear to be able to live near roads, but this does come with a cost in terms of prey capture.
“However, spiders near busier roads did not weigh less than those in other sites, suggesting they may be able to compensate for the disturbance.
“These findings add to the accumulating evidence around this species that points to its ability to exist in human-dominated landscapes, which will likely aid its spread in the introduced range,” they explained.
The scientists aren’t sure what the longterm affects of a Jorō spider invasion would be.
Other invasive species like the Spotted Lanternfly have caused havoc in the US.
Spotted Lanternflies are known to negatively impact forest health.
Jorō spiders are known to be shy and have no natural predators.
“It looks like Joro spiders are not going to shy away from building a web under a stoplight or an area where you wouldn’t imagine a spider to be,” said Alexa Shultz, co-author of the study and a third-year ecology student at UGA.
“I don’t know how happy people are going to be about it, but I think the spiders are here to stay.”