Researchers say a fairly large East Asian spider that spread through Georgia last year could reach most of the U.S. East Coast. The Joro spider weaves a golden web that took over yards all over north Georgia in 2021. The spider was also spotted in South Carolina and entomologists expect it to spread throughout the Southeast.
However, new studies suggest the spider can spread even further than that. The Joro spider appears to be better suited to colder temperatures, according to researchers at the University of Georgia. The study found it has about double the metabolism, 77 per cent higher heart rate, and can survive a brief freeze that kills off its relatives.
They also noted that this species is found in much of Japan, which has a similar climate to the U.S. The studies co-author Andy Davis said “just by looking at that, it looks like the Joros could probably survive throughout most of the Eastern seaboard here, which is pretty sobering,”
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