As the invasion of giant Jorō spiders spreads across the southeastern United States, scientists are uncovering surprising facts about these flying arachnids, including their remarkable ability to stay calm under pressure. A recent study by the University of Georgia (UGA) highlights how these spiders remain composed even in chaotic environments, according to USA Today.
The study, published in *Physiological Entomology*, shows that Jorō spiders’ heart rates are the best indicator of their stress levels. Lead researcher Andy Davis noted that despite their intimidating appearance, these spiders appear almost unfazed by stressful situations.
“They can live in pretty crazy places… so one thought we had going into this was, ‘well, maybe the Jorō spiders just don’t even get stressed,’” Davis told CNN.
While Jorō spiders do experience stress, their unique response is to remain motionless rather than flee. This behaviour, linked to a rare freezing response identified in a previous study, makes them harder to spot in urban environments.
In experiments, the spiders were placed in wood frames at 22°C for an entire day, showing no movement. When physically restrained, Jorō spiders remained calm, unlike other spiders that struggled. “The Jorō spiders rarely struggled once restrained, while the garden spiders put up quite a fight,” said co-author Christina Vu.
First sighted in Georgia in 2013, Jorō spiders are now reported in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Maryland. “It doesn’t help that this particular invasive species looks like something out of a horror movie,” Vu said.
The study, published in *Physiological Entomology*, shows that Jorō spiders’ heart rates are the best indicator of their stress levels. Lead researcher Andy Davis noted that despite their intimidating appearance, these spiders appear almost unfazed by stressful situations.
“They can live in pretty crazy places… so one thought we had going into this was, ‘well, maybe the Jorō spiders just don’t even get stressed,’” Davis told CNN.
While Jorō spiders do experience stress, their unique response is to remain motionless rather than flee. This behaviour, linked to a rare freezing response identified in a previous study, makes them harder to spot in urban environments.
In experiments, the spiders were placed in wood frames at 22°C for an entire day, showing no movement. When physically restrained, Jorō spiders remained calm, unlike other spiders that struggled. “The Jorō spiders rarely struggled once restrained, while the garden spiders put up quite a fight,” said co-author Christina Vu.
First sighted in Georgia in 2013, Jorō spiders are now reported in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Maryland. “It doesn’t help that this particular invasive species looks like something out of a horror movie,” Vu said.
