A new study suggests the Joro spider is well suited to colder temperatures
The golden web of the zoro spider took over yards across northern Georgia in 2021, upsetting some residents. The spider was also seen in South Carolina, and entomologists expected it to spread throughout the Southeast.
A new study suggests it may spread even further. Researchers from the University of Georgia said in a paper published last month that the zoro appears to be better adapted to colder temperatures than related species.
The study found that it nearly doubled its metabolism, had a 77% higher heart rate and could survive a brief freeze that killed its relatives. The researchers also noted that zoros are found in much of Japan, which has a climate similar to that of the U.S.
"Just looking at it, it looks like Joros could probably survive on most of the eastern seaboard here, which is pretty grim," study co-author Andy Davis said in a statement.
What is Zoro Spider?
Zoro - Trichonephila clavata - is part of a group of spiders known as orb weavers for their highly organized, wheel-shaped webs.
Zoro females have colorful yellow, blue and red markings on their bodies and can measure three inches when their legs are fully extended.
To begin with, they How to reach?
It is not clear exactly where the first zoro spider came from in the U.S. How and when did I come in or why were they so abundant in Georgia last year?
Their impact on native species and the environment is also unclear, although some researchers believe they are benign.
Will they eventually reach Boston? and when?
Davis told The Boston Globe that there's a good chance the Zorro Spider could reach Boston by spinning silk to fly through the air – or riding on people's cars.
"Our study doesn't really tell us how far the Joros will go, but based on the temperatures in the Boston area, I'd say they have a very good chance of making it there sometime in the next 5-10 years," Davis told the Globe. Told. "That is, if they don't ride on the car first - it's very likely."
Should we be worried?
According to MahariyaNews and science communicator Adam Larson, there is nothing to worry about. Zorro spiders can be a nuisance, but they do not cause any major problems for the ecosystem and economy, he added.
But that doesn't mean that people who are afraid of spiders will be happy to see them.
Larsen said zoro spiders could actually benefit the Northeast, as they could help control populations of more harmful invasive species such as stink bugs, which kill entire crops of corn, peppers, tomatoes, apples and peaches. able to delete. Zoro spiders eat stink bugs.