Huge spiders that can fly have been spotted in Pennsylvania, prompting warnings that they should be killed on sight. Joro spiders are not native to the United States, and little is known about what damage they could cause to the ecosystems. They have previously been spotted in Georgia, but have now made inroads into the northeast, sparking fears they’ll soon be prevalent in one of the United States’ most densely-populated corners. Pennsylvania State University spider expert Michael Skvaria said the best course of action is to kill them when they’re found. However, it’s important to take pictures of the spider to report it to labs that are tracking the species around the U.S. The spiders don’t pose much of a risk to the public. “They’re not very venomous at all, and they’re very reluctant biters,” said Skvaria. “Even if you pick them up, they might bite in defense if you grab one, but the fangs are so small that it’s hard for them to pierce human skin despite their large size.” The spiders are called flying spiders because they have the ability to balloon, allowing them to travel long distances by releasing silk and parachuting from one location to other. This gives the illusion that they’re flying through the air.
