Are giant, venomous Joro spiders about to invade New York?

It’s imminent although no one knows exactly when — and there’s nothing to be too worried about, scientists say. Through a technique called ballooning, baby Joro spiders release silk threads that allow them to ride currents of the wind. Parts of the US Northwest and even northwestern Mexico could also serve as favourable habitats for the Joro spider, the scientists said. According to the study by Davis and his colleagues at the University of Georgia, Joro spiders are not harmful to people and pets. Like any invasive species, scientists are worried about their impact on crops and trees, but just how Joro spiders behave on farms is still a subject of study.