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The Timid Giant: Joro Spider’s Surprising Personality

The Joro spider is an East Asian arachnid that has populated the Southeastern United States. It is known for its imposing size, but what is surprising is that it is not aggressive at all. In fact, according to a study by the University of Georgia, it is incredibly timid and freezes when disturbed for more than an hour. This behavior is significantly longer than most spiders.

The Study’s Findings

Contrary to initial speculation, the Joro spider is not aggressive but rather freezes when disturbed. Researchers compared more than 450 spiders’ responses to a brief and harmless disturbance across 10 different species. While most spiders froze for less than a minute before resuming their normal activities, Joro spiders remained motionless for more than an hour.

According to Andy Davis, lead author of the study and a research scientist in UGA’s Odum School of Ecology, “Our paper shows that these spiders are really more afraid of you than the reverse.” Joros are relatively harmless to people and pets. Moreover, they won’t bite unless cornered, and even if you manage to annoy one into biting you, its fangs likely wouldn’t be large enough to pierce your skin.

The Joro Spiders’ Invasiveness and Shyness

The Joro spider is an invasive species that arrived in Georgia around 2013 via a shipping container. The species is native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China. It has since rapidly spread across the state and the Southeast, easily numbering in the millions now. However, the researchers believe that their shyness may help them better endure the barrage of noise, vibrations, and visual stimuli they consistently encounter in urban settings.

Their prolonged freeze response to being startled could help conserve the Joro spiders’ energy. They are so good at living with humans that they are probably not going away anytime soon.

The Golden Silk Spider vs. the Joro Spider

The Joro spider’s cousin, the golden silk spider, known as Trichonephila clavipes, is from the same genus as the Joro spider. The only other spider species that exhibited a similarly extended response to stress was the golden silk spider. This finding suggests that the Joro spider is probably one of the shyest spiders ever documented.

The Joro Spiders and Their Reproductive Potential

The researchers’ study also found that the Joro spiders’ rapid spread must be due to their incredible reproductive potential. They are outbreeding everybody else, and it’s not because they’re displacing native spiders or kicking them out of their webs. In fact, Joros are rather benign, and their prolonged freezing response to being startled may help them better deal with the barrage of noise, vibrations, and visual stimuli they constantly encounter in urban settings.

Joro Spiders and Their Gentle Temperament Amidst Fear

Arachnophobes can take solace in the Joro spiders’ meek and gentle temperament. They are timid giants mean no harm. They are not only surviving but also thriving in urban settings because of their shyness and reproductive potential.

FAQs

Are Joro spiders dangerous?

Joro spiders are relatively harmless to people and pets. They won’t bite unless cornered, and even if you manage to annoy one into biting you, its fangs likely wouldn’t be large enough to pierce your skin.

How do Joro spiders respond to being disturbed?

Joro spiders freeze for more than an hour when disturbed, which is significantly longer than most spiders. They basically shut down and wait for the disturbance to go away. It turns out they’re more afraid of you than you’re of them.

How did Joro spiders arrive in the Southeastern United States?

The Joro spider is an invasive species that arrived in Georgia around 2013 via a shipping container. The species is native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China. It has since rapidly spread across the state and the Southeast, easily numbering in the millions now.

Are Joro spiders displacing native spiders?

Joro spiders are not displacing native spiders or kicking them out of their webs. Joro spiders outbreed everybody else, and their rapid spread must be due to their incredible reproductive potential.

What is the golden silk spider?

The golden silk spider, known as Trichonephila clavipes, is from the same genus as the Joro spider. The only other spider species that exhibited a similarly extended response to stress was the golden silk spider. This finding suggests that the Joro spider is probably one of the shyest spiders ever documented.

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