Joro spiders: Massive and shy, but harmless.

A new study from the University of Georgia reveals that the Joro spider, an invasive species in the Southeastern U.S., is actually a timid and gentle spider. The researchers found that Joros freeze for over an hour when disturbed, indicating that they are more afraid of humans than the reverse. Despite their intimidating appearance, Joros are relatively harmless to people and pets. The researchers believe that the spiders' shyness may help them better endure the barrage of noise, vibrations, and visual stimuli they consistently encounter in urban settings.