Source Can Share Info on Species, Cutting-Edge Research
03/14/2022
Contact for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
Arachnophobes may not want to hear it, but the giant Joro spiders that have gained a foothold in Georgia and South Carolina are not worth worrying about, according to a UMass Lowell expert available for interviews.
Transplanted from Asia, the Joro, or Trichonephila clavate, spider has established a home in the South and some believe they could make their way to New England soon. If they do, the spiders, which can measure up to 8 inches across with their legs fully extended, should not be a concern for humans, according to Jessica Garb, a UMass Lowell biologist who studies spiders and their ability to spin webs.
“All spiders make venom but most of them don’t bite people. This particular species, even though it’s large, it’s not aggressive at all. I can’t find any evidence of these spiders biting anyone or their venom being harmful,” Garb said. “It’s more of a concern from the perspective of the native plants and animals here, how this invasive species might affect them, not so much us. Even if they could survive here, they may not survive well or establish very large populations.”
She is available to discuss:
- Characteristics of the Joro spider, where they are now and whether they will migrate to other regions of the United States;
- Her research on the evolution of spider silk and how that understanding could be applied to developing new types of strong, adhesive and flexible materials for industrial uses;
- Her research on the various types of spider venom and how it could contribute to the development of new pharmaceuticals.
Garb is an associate professor of biological sciences in UMass Lowell’s Kennedy College of Sciences. To arrange an interview with her via phone, email or Zoom (or another platform), contact Nancy Cicco at Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu.