Recent news about spider bits us8/26/2023 ![]() Jorō spiders have since spread throughout northern Georgia and adjacent areas of Alabama, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee (Figure 5). Jorō spiders were accidentally introduced into North America, likely through shipping containers or potted plant material, and were first discovered in three counties in Georgia in 2014. Native range of jorō spiders, based on records from iNaturalist and Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Jorō spiders are native to Asia, including Japan (excluding Hokkaido), North and South Korea, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and India (Figure 4).įigure 4. The Japanese name for jorō spiders is "jorō-gumo," which translates to "entangling or binding bride." Distribution Native range ![]() Photograph by Denis via iNaturalist, used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license. Note the smaller size and brown coloration compared to females. The prosoma is light brown with lateral dark brown stripes and the opisthosoma has a dark brown central stripe.įigure 3. Photograph by Paul Scott via iNaturalist, used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license.Īdult male jorō spiders are much smaller and duller in color compared to females, with a body length of only 0.3 inches (Figure 3). Note the difference in the pattern of the opisthosoma compared to the adult female in figure 1. Immature female jorō spiders have a brown prosoma, a cylindrical opisthosoma with a black and yellow pattern, and black and yellow banded legs (Figure 2)įigure 2. Photograph by Benoît Segerer via iNaturalist, used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license. The legs are black with yellow bands (Figure 1).įigure 1. The opisthosoma (abdomen) is cylindrical, with bright yellow with grey-blue bands on the dorsum and an intricate yellow and grey-blue pattern with a large red mark on the venter. The dorsum of the prosoma (cephalothorax) is covered with golden or silvery hairs. Koch, 1878įamily: Araneidae (orb-weaver spiders) DescriptionĪdult female jorō spiders are large and brightly colored, with body length up to 1 inch and a leg span up to 4 inches. Thank you.Scientific name: Trichonephila clavata L. ![]() No matter the size, every gift to the Museum is critical to our 300 scientists' work in understanding and protecting the natural world.įrom as little as £2, you can help us to find new ways to protect nature. We are a charity and we rely on your support. Understanding and protecting life on our planet is the greatest scientific challenge of our age. To reverse the damage we've done and protect the future, we need the knowledge that comes from scientific discovery. People tell us they 'still get shivers walking through the front door', and thank us for inspiring the next generation of scientists. Museum scientists are working hard to understand and fight against the threats facing British wildlife.įor many, the Museum is a place that inspires learning, gives purpose and provides hope. We must act on scientific evidence, we must act together, and we must act now.ĭespite the mounting pressures, hope is not lost. The animals and plants that make our island unique are facing a fight to survive. Hedgehog habitats are disappearing, porpoises are choking on plastic and ancient woodlands are being paved over.īut if we don't look after nature, nature can't look after us. Our future depends on nature, but we are not doing enough to protect our life support system.īritish wildlife is under threat. Now we're wondering if you can help us.Įvery year, more people are reading our articles to learn about the challenges facing the natural world. or that it helped you learn something new. 'So next time you find an unwanted spider in your house, please don’t kill it! Either leave it in peace, or humanely put it out in your shed.'įalse widows can live in relative harmony with us - they're even tidy houseguests, helping to keep our homes clear of flying insects and other pesky invertebrates. 'Aside from their key role in feeding on pest insect species, their silk is being developed to make specialist clothing such as bullet-proof vests and their venom can be used in pain relief.' That’s a great pity because spiders are awesome creatures which are sadly misunderstood.' Jan Beccaloni, Curator of Arachnida and Myriapoda, says 'During my time at the Natural History Museum I have, not surprisingly, met many people who are scared of spiders. But these spiders only bite when they feel threatened. There is often hysteria surrounding these spiders, and they have unjustly earned a reputation for being a dangerous pest. ![]() The extreme side effects experienced are most likely the result of a secondary infection, likely bacterial, if the wound is not kept clean. But these are usually not backed up with formal spider identification. There are sometimes reports of false widow bites that present with more sinister symptoms like rotting flesh and excruciating pain. ![]()
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