Shy and Harmless: New Research on Giant Joro Spiders

New research from the University of Georgia suggests that the invasive Joro spider, which has been rapidly spreading across the Southeast over the past decade, is actually "extremely shy and non-aggressive," compared to other spiders commonly found in the region. The researchers tested the aggressiveness of the Joro and found that they are more afraid of humans than the reverse. The Joro spiders are likely here to stay in the Southeast due to their incredible reproductive potential and ability to live with humans.