The New Jersey Pest Control Division says giant venomous flying spiders with four-inch legs are real and could be making their way into the New York area later this year.
The pest control service said in a news release earlier this year that the orb-weaver spider first entered the southeastern U.S. from Japan and is now making its way into the Northeast. In 2021, Georgia became an “epicenter” of the spider, with residents spotting it in urban and rural areas, according to a report from the University of Georgia’s public FM radio station WUGA.
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The Flanders, New Jersey-based pest control service says the Japanese spider is “hard to miss” because of its “distinguished appearance and distinctive behavior.” The service says the spider is “bright yellow” with a black body.
What sets the Jorogumo spider apart from other spiders is its ability to fly using a technique called “ballooning,” which means the spider releases silk threads into the air, where they are carried away by the wind, according to the pest control service.
How did the Jorogumo get to America?
According to the New Jersey Department of Pest Control, the orb-weaver spider originated in the United States because the poisonous spider was unintentionally transported in cargo shipments, international trade and personal travel.
The pest control service said it was unclear exactly how it got to the US, but “the impact of its arrival is becoming increasingly clear.”
According to the pest control service, the wigeon spider’s ability to adapt to different environments and reproduce quickly has allowed it to successfully establish itself in the southeast as its initial epicentre.
“This spider will be able to colonize most of the eastern U.S.,” Clemson University invasive species expert David Coyle said in October 2023. “This indicates that their comfortable range in their native area matches up very well with most of North America… Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we expect the range of these spiders will probably continue to expand northward, and we’ve already seen that in some populations in Maryland.”
José R. Ramírez Garofalo, an ecologist at Rutgers University’s Lockwood Institute, told the Staten Island Advance in April that it’s not a question of if the spider will arrive in New York and New Jersey, but when.
What impact does the Jorogumo have on local ecosystems?
Exterminators say the introduction of the spider “has the potential to upset the delicate balance of the local ecosystem.”
According to the pest control service, the widow spider acts as a “natural pest controller” in its native habitat within the borders of Southeast Asia, keeping insect populations in check.
“The spider’s predatory nature could lead to a decline in native insect populations, which could impact the food chain and have ripple effects throughout the ecosystem,” extermination experts say.
The pest control service said the spider’s intimidating appearance could cause “fear and anxiety” for people, especially residents and local authorities, and that while the spider’s venom is not usually fatal to humans, its bite can cause discomfort and allergic reactions in some people.
How do I get rid of waterfowl spiders?
It is likely that water sparrows will continue to exist in the area for some time to come, so there is no surefire way to eradicate them.
“In the face of an unprecedented invasion of the spider, communities must come together, educate and adapt,” the pest control service said. “The delicate balance of the ecosystem requires a nuanced understanding of these arachnids, emphasizing coexistence and responsible management. Finally, we must remember the importance of living in harmony with nature to foster resilient and sustainable ecosystems.”
People who come across a spider can contact their local pest control company to remove it from their home or property, but the public has few options other than extermination as entomologists and ecologists continue to study the colorful creatures’ migration to the US.
