Flying Spiders: Fact vs. Fiction for American Homeowners

If you have heard the stories about the flying spiders that are going to take over the United States, you certainly are not the only one. The notion of spiders flying in the sky is scary, especially to people who are worried about pests in their houses. But what is actually behind these stories? At Saynopest, we focus on delivering genuine and interesting messages about pest control in America. We can discuss the issue of flying spiders and answer the question, “can spiders fly?” Then, we can go through the phenomenon of the joro spider flying, and finally, we can unwrap the mystery of the flying spiders with wings.

What Are Flying Spiders?

Spiders that are called flying ones may exciting to some people as those with wings fans. They came to mind that they saw such creatures flying through their backyard, but the truth is far from that. Of course, we do not meet any spiders with wings, and also the spider family is not the one that can fly the way birds or insects can. That is why the name of Flying Spiders actually denotes a highly interesting activity of spiders known as ballooning. The spiders, namely, little spiderlings, are sending very thin silk filaments into the sky, which catch the wind and thus are transport far distances. This is, of course, a very ingenious nature’s mechanism that allows spiders to find themselves in new areas, hide from foes, or just have a bite to eat.

Such a phenomenon as ballooning has proven by many experiments where spiders have appeared both far across the oceans and high in the sky. Hence, the term “flying spiders” is a good example of such travel of their sojourn through the air but it does not signify that they are the creatures with wings or that they furiously beach through the skies.

Can Spiders Fly?

We are better off to tackle the matter of “Can spiders fly?” question openly, and the answer will both affirmative and negative, depending on what exactly is meant by flying. Spiders do not have wings and therefore, they are not able to fly by themselves. The only way, however, through which they can become airborne and thus cover considerable distances is the phenomenon of ballooning. They do this by gaining some height, bending their abdomens upwards, and giving out silk that serves as a kind of parachute or a sail. Besides, the Earth’s energy field can also give a boost to spiders, and they can even feel the right moment for flight.

Even though – can spiders fly – is quite a fascinating question to answered, the truth is that spiders take advantage of a very smart combination of silk together with the targeted forces of the environment to mimic a “flight” without wings.

Joro Spider Flying

The most widely discussed example of the U.S. news featuring flying spiders is the joro spider flying phenomenon. The Joro spider is indigenous to East Asia but has started its invasion in areas of the eastern states like Georgia, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania, just recently. These spiders with their brilliant yellow striped and black bodies are also known to really big and their legs extend quite well towards 10 to a size of centimeters, because they are left with no choice but to travel around using ballooning.

Considering that you are discussing something like a joro spider being able to fly, you are not discussing how the spiders are making use of what they have developed (the silk thread) to make them adhere to the wind and move to another destination, but that they are flying, using their wings. In spite of their frightening appearance and venomous bites, the Joro spiders belong to those bugs that do not present a threat to human beings and domestic animals. Rather than so, they are highly delicate and quiet and do not want to see people; the insects, mosquitoes, and stink bugs are the chief source of their food.

Flying Spiders With Wings

The idea of flying spiders with wings is nothing but a myth. No spider species has ever grown wings, and there are no scientific documents of spiders with this attribute. This confusion is most likely to attributed to the practice of ballooning that might deceive the eye into believing that the spiders might be floating in mid-air or flying in the air. The truth of the matter is that social media and viral postings can be exaggerat but fear not: there are no flying spiders with wings in the natural world.

When you see a spider zooming along on the air, he is not a flyer with wings (Air), but again it is a matter of air currents that are utilizing silk as an improvised glider. This is an efficient mode for migration but it does not allow the spiders to manipulate or regulate their flight as birds or insects do.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is such a thing as flying spiders, although not as experienced by some people, who see spiders in their imagination. The spiders do not fly, and they do not have wings. Rather, spiders such as the Joro ones get to travel via ballooning as their air transport, and more often than not, they end up travelling very far. Are spiders able to fly? and the answer to this question is that they can only fly when they exploit the use of wind fields and electric fields with their silk. No such creatures like flying spiders exist with wings, and what you might hear in the search of such information online is usually not at all close to the truth or even lies.

For people who live in the US, getting the right picture of flying spiders can definitely be the key to understanding these creatures without fear and focusing on good pest control practices. If you are afraid of spiders or other animals in your house, you can always rely on the saynopest team to give you good advice on the topic and to be with you in the fight. The more you know, the safer you are, and we will be glad to join you in keeping the pests away from your home.