Joro spiders (which have been expanding their range into Georgia and New York) are large and colourful but not dangerous to humans. Joro spiders have venom like all spiders, but they aren't deadly or even medically relevant to humans. At worst, a Joro bite might itch or cause an allergic reaction. "They're not dangerous. They're not aggressive. Even if you...go after the spider and harass it to such an extent that it would bite you, it wouldn't be an issue," said Professor Kronauer.

Joro spiders actually have a reputation for being shy. A University of Georgia research scientist, Andy Davis, told the New York Times last year he had experimented by blowing air on different spiders with a turkey baster. "They don't like that, and they freeze," he told the outlet. "You can time how long they stay in that position." Other species remained frozen for two minutes. The joro spiders he tested didn't move for an hour.

The Microscopic Universe That Thrives in Our Sky (previously)

Surveying nival aeolian fallout. Bonus art from The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators

If spiders use their webs like a large external eardrum, researchers reasoned, perhaps spider silk could be the basis for a powerful listening device.

If spiders use their webs like a large external eardrum, researchers reasoned, perhaps spider silk could be the basis for a powerful listening device.