Colorful, venomous palm-sized Joro spiders are set to take over the east coast this spring. Here is what they look like:
They are venomous but do not pose as a threat to humans or house pets and will not bite unless they feel in danger. Their fangs are also not long and sharp enough to penetrate human skin.
The eight-legged insects also reduce mosquitoes and biting flies. They are one of the few spiders that will catch and eat stink bugs, which are serious pests to many crops.
They use a 'ballooning' technique that allows them to catch air with their web, allowing them to travel 50-100 miles. Most often, Joro spiders can be found in groups and not far away from forests.
They are also great stowaways as they came to the U.S. by hanging on to cargo ships in 2014.