These spiders are well-equipped to live in populated cities, researchers say

(Gray News) – Anyone who is afraid of small, creepy insects might think they would be safer in more populated areas.

However, one type of spider may be well-suited to live in busy city centers.

According to researchers from the University of Georgia, the Joro spider, an invasive orb-weaving spider first seen in the United States around 2013, has been successful in its spread because of its tolerance to vibrations and noise in urban landscapes.

The Joro spider is commonly seen throughout Georgia and other states in the southern region.

New research highlights how the spiders can live next to busy roads and locations that are known to be stressful for most other animals.

Researchers discovered that the Joro spiders don’t seem to be affected by the hustle and bustle of busier landscapes and seem to weigh about the same weight as other spiders in less busy locations. They also discovered that these spiders are less likely to attack simulated prey.

The researchers suggest the species can compensate for its human-dominated landscape.

The spiders often build their golden webs between power lines, on spotlights and even above gas station pumps.

The researchers used a tuning fork to mimic the vibrations of prey in more than 350 trials. The Joro spiders near busy locations attacked more than half the time, while spiders in less populated spots attacked 65% of the time.

Despite this, the researchers did not find a notable difference in the spiders’ weight, suggesting that the spiders in the busier areas were not under nourished.