Scientists at the University of Georgia have conducted a study on Jorō spiders, a giant venomous flying arachnid species that is invading the southeastern United States. The researchers found that the spiders remain calm under stress, with their heart rates being the best indicator of their stress levels. The spiders do not panic and run away when stressed, but instead stay in place, making them harder to identify when they make webs in urban areas.
The study revealed that the Jorō spider’s ability to remain calm under stress stems from a rare freezing response identified in a previous study. The spiders were observed to stay motionless for hours in stressful situations, displaying composure much better than other arachnids. In experiments, the researchers found that Jorō spiders rarely struggled when physically restrained compared to other closely related species.
Since their initial sightings in Georgia in 2013 and 2014, the Jorō spider population has expanded across the southeastern U.S. The spiders have been spotted in neighboring states and may be found in most of the eastern U.S. Researchers are concerned about the potential impact of these invasive spiders on local insect and wildlife populations. Despite their invasive nature, the Jorō spiders’ unique characteristics continue to fascinate scientists studying them.
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