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Scientist reveals the truth about 'flying' 4-INCH spiders that are invading the East Coast - and how venomous they REALLY are
A scientist has revealed exactly what Americans can expect this summer amid claims about an infestation of giant, flying spiders along the East Coast.
The giant Jorō spiders - which are native to Asia and grow to four-inches when fully stretched - have been slowly advancing in the US after first appearing in Georgia about a decade ago.
They made nationwide headlines on Tuesday because, for the first time, experts made predictions that New Yorkers could come across the huge arachnids.
Addressing one of the more frightening claims, that the spiders can 'fly', Dr David Coyle assured people that they don't fly ‘like the monkeys in the Wizard of Oz.'
Dr Coyle, an entomologist at Clemon University, explained that only the baby spiders have that ability - and they lose it when they grow into their bright yellow-and-blue streaked bodies.
Reports have suggested that the Jorō spider is larger than a human hand, but they are up to four inches with their legs spread out
Dr David Coyle, an entomologist at Clemon University, told DailyMail.com that Jorō spiders do not fly ‘like the monkeys in the Wizard of Oz,’ because they are too large - only the spiderlings can travel by threads of silk captured by the wind
Female Jorōs lay hundreds to more than 1,000 eggs at a time, which typically hatch during April and May.
Once their eggs hatch in the spring, the spiderlings hitchhike by ballooning - they release tiny silk threads that are picked up by the wind.
‘One of the issues is people think that the big ones are going to fly like the monkeys in the Wizard of Oz and drop on their picnic,’ Dr Coyle said.
‘A spider that large is not capable of being carried by silk. So they don’t fly.’
The body of an adult female Jorō, which is larger than males, is up to one inch with each leg accounting for about two to three inches.
'A really big on might be three to four inches across with its legs spread out,' said the entomologist.
'Four-inch bodies are not happening, six inch anything is not happening.'
He continued to explain that while Jorōs are large, the US has several other spiders like the Garden and Banana spiders that are about the same size.
Jorō spiders are native to China and came to the US in 2014, first appearing in Georgia - but have since spread to South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Alabama and Maryland.
Adult spiders are too large to be carried by a silk thread, which the expert said means they do not fly
Jorō spiders are native to China and came to the US in 2014, first appearing in Georgia - but have since spread to South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Maryland
Dr Coyle lives in Georgia and said he and his children have been handling Jorōs for years - and none of them have ever been bitten.
The first Jorōs in the US arrived in shipping containers that docked in the state.
'They have been holding them since they were six and eight years old,' the entomologist said.
‘Would [the spiders] bite? Yes, maybe if you have one in your hand and are shaking it.
'I have heard that if you get bit by [a Jorō], it's essentially like a mosquito bite.'
Dr Coyle lives in Georgia and said he and his children have been handling Jorōs for years - and none of them have ever been bitten
Dr Coyle and his team published a study in November 2023, following an investigation into if the spiders could survive the harsh Northeastern winter.
The experiment showed nearly 75 percent of the spiders were unaffected, with the rest showing some injuries.
However, the study concluded that states like New York and New Jersey are ‘suitable for future range expansion.’
‘Will they actually get [to the Northeast]? That remains to be seen right,’ said Dr Coyle.
'They don't spread all that far, or we don't think they spread all that far on their own every year.
'We have no idea if or when they will actually get there yet.'
He continued to explain that the ‘hitchhiker species’ mostly spreads with the help of people, such as latching on to cars, plants and even picnic baskets.
'It is not like they are actively trying to go somewhere, it just happens,' said Dr Coyle.
And while other experts have warned that Jorōs are venomous, Dr Coyle noted that all spiders are - at least technically.
‘That is how they subdue their prey,’ Dr Coyle continued.
But that does not mean they are dangerous to people, which is what venomous is normally associated, he explained.
Jorō spiders can easily multiply by the millions, while it is unknown how many are in the US, which the entomologist said can be 'super annoying' - but he said they are not a danger to humans
There have been no sightings in New York or New Jersey on record and while the spiders could survive the harsh winters it does not mean they are set to invade these states
Jorō spiders can easily multiply by the millions, while it is unknown how many are in the US, which the entomologist said can be 'super annoying.'
'They're all over the place, and they're super annoying because they'll get on your deck and your porch and your carport,' he explained.
'And you're of always trying to get them out of there. Yeah, they're annoying, are they? Dangerous? No, they're not dangerous.
'Ecologically, they are good.'
The arachnids have become a natural pest killer for Americans, feasting on everything that gets caught in their webs that can span more than six feet across.
Their prey includes cockroaches and stink bugs, but unsuspecting pollinators can also become trapped and killed.
'Most people do not even realize that Jorōs are out right now because they are so tiny,' said Dr Coyle.
'They start getting beefy and bigger towards the end of summer, so late August they start to grow an inch across and by late September into early October is when they are big.
'That's my Jorō season.'
He continued to explain that because of this he was caught off guard when news flooded the web about Jorōs flying and invading New York.