stories of big things Alien species Jorogmo Parachuting isn’t finished yet. The four-inch-long legged creatures have a truly different structure, and their hearts can withstand loud, buzzing noises, according to a new study. big city.
Andy Davis, a researcher at the University of Georgia, made the discovery while conducting cardiac stress tests on the common spider and its cousin, the golden silk spider. The study, published Monday in the journal Physiological Entomology, found that this species knows how to relax and remain calm when placed in situations that increase heart rate.
The black spider, also known as Trichonephila clavata, is “known for nesting not only in natural green spaces, but also in cities and towns, often in buildings and human dwellings,” the study says. “The stress response of Trichonephylla spiders can be characterized as ‘calm’ and this may influence their ability to survive in frequently disturbed habitats.”
Davis and his team evaluated the physiological responses of the Jorog spider and the golden silk spider and compared them to those of another pair of similar sizes that are closely related to each other: the garden spider and the striped garden spider. I did.
The researchers recorded baseline heart rates while the arachnids were resting and inactive, and then recorded heart rates after restraining them under an electronic sensor for 10 minutes.
Alex Sanz/Associated Press
“When exposed to new restraint stress, heart rates increased in all spider species, an expected response noted by other spider researchers,” the study said. “However, there were differences between species in the magnitude of this increase and how the response progressed over a 10-minute period.”
The spiders, both belonging to the Aranea genus, exhibited “unique periodic fluctuations during captivity” and were even seen resisting captivity, the researchers said. Jorogmo and its golden thread cousin, on the other hand, were “less variable and more uniform.” They have also been observed to go into a dead state for over an hour after a stressor, meaning they essentially freeze during that time.
Researchers say, “We are beginning to uncover how the invasive Jorog spider and its cousin, the golden thread spider, have unique ways to withstand new stressors, which may help them occupy anthropogenic landscapes.” “This may be the reason for the ability to He notes that other spider species in the family may also share this trait, but that requires further investigation.
The brown spider has been making headlines for years as it continues to spread across the East Coast. The spider, which is native to Asia, is believed to have first been introduced to northern Georgia around 2010. It has since been found in nearly a dozen other states. In December, Davis told the New York Times that New York is “right in the middle of where they want to be.” It is predicted that they may appear in the New York tri-state area this summer, but no such reports have been made.
Dave Coyle/Clemson University
“They seem to be fine living in the city,” he told the paper, adding that he has seen them hanging out on lampposts and utility poles, “where normal spiders wouldn’t get caught and die.” He added that it has been done.
The latest findings may not conclusively prove that the spider’s relaxed demeanor is the reason for its “affinity for urban environments,” the study said, adding that further research is needed. Ta. But it confirms Davis’s February study, which also found that spiders don’t necessarily mind the increased noise and vibrations that come with city life.
“These watering hole webs are everywhere in the fall, including right next to busy roads, and spiders seem to be able to make a living there. For some reason, these spiders are resistant to cities. “It seems like it is,” Davis said of the previous study.
Alexa Schultz, a UGA student and co-author of the study, agreed, saying, “Joll spiders don’t seem to be afraid to build their webs under traffic lights or in places you wouldn’t expect a spider to be there.” . ”
But don’t worry. Although spiders are poisonous, they pose no danger to humans. However, spiders can increase your heart rate more than your heart rate.