The Maney & LauRen Morning Show

Big Venomous Spiders From South Carolina Now Invading Other States

Author Maney

November 6th, 2023 9:25 AM

An invasive spider species is spreading…everywhere! We have South Carolina to thank for its big venomous spiders moving to other states. A study from Clemson University says Joro spiders are spreading beyond South Carolina and are expected to spread through most of the eastern U.S. and eventually the entire country. The spiders are large, brightly colored yellow and black and use their webs to travel in the wind. Whaaaaat??? I’m down with any of this ha!

The females have a bright, distinct color pattern.

They are typically black or dark brown with yellow, orange, or red markings on their abdomen. These markings give them a visually striking appearance. Making them more attractive to a mate. Joro spiders are also pretty big. How big? According to Wikipedia, Females reach sizes of around 1-1.5 inches (2.5-3.8 centimeters) in body length and a leg span of up to 4-6 inches (10-15 centimeters). Males are much smaller though. The males are also much smaller and less colorful than the females. They are often difficult to spot in the wild because they don’t build webs for capturing prey. (What kind of spider doesn’t make a web?)

The female Joro spider makes huge webs. Some of these webs can be a few feet wide and long. They make them in gardens and other open spaces. Have fun running through that thing!

The good news? Joro spiders are not known for being dangerous to humans. They’re venomous spiders, but researchers say they don’t bite humans or pets unless they are cornered. While they possess venom to immobilize their prey, their venom is not considered harmful to humans. Their bites are generally not medically significant for humans. I once heard the same thing about daddy long legs.

Good news on the venom front though! I got bit by a fire ant a few weeks ago, and that thing hurt like hell!

Steve Maney’s radio career has taken him all over the US, from interning with Howard Stern to working with Elvis Duran, this radio veteran now calls Charlotte and Kiss 95.1 home. He is Kiss’ staple entertainment guy writing about his thoughts on local news and funny topics like the name of the male Karen. It’s so much to know, but Maney will deep dive into any topic to get you a great piece to read.

South Carolina Has 2 Of The Most Expensive Beach Towns In The Nation

For a lot of us, it doesn’t get better than spending our summer vacation at the beach. Unfortunately, South Carolina has 2 of the most expensive beach towns in the nation. While there are a lot of coastal cities to choose from, these destinations can be pretty pricey. But it really all depends on where you go. A new report reveals where the most affordable towns with an ocean view are.

Upgraded Points has just come out with their list of the most and least expensive beach towns in the U.S.
Their team compared the average nightly and weekly cost of beachfront hotels and vacation homes in 75 popular beach towns across the country.
Based on the average price of a weeklong stay, the most expensive beach town is Montauk, New York, where a one-week oceanfront stay will set you back $6,454.
The least expensive is Cedar Key, Florida, where the average cost is $1,330 per week.

So which South Carolina towns are among the most expensive in the country? Let’s have a look! Here are the top 10 most expensive beach towns in the country.

10. Solana Beach, California

(Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

Solana Beach, California is north of San Diego. It’s a super safe town, and the beach is long with great water temperatures. The average rental home costs $4,372 a week.
9. Key West, Florida
(Photo by Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau via Getty Images)

Key West is not only a great beach town, it has plenty of history and attractions. Boat racing takes over the town in the summer. Plus, you can get into the Earnest Hemmingway look-a-like contest that happens each year! Average cost of a week rental? $4,547
8. Laguna Beach, California
(Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)

Sure Laguna Beach on MTV was a great show. Sure, your rental home may sink into the water. But it is a cool beach town. It will cost you on average $4,564 to get a home for the week. Not bad. Hope insurance is included!
7. Lahaina, Hawaii
(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

This Maui town is the home of a big golf tournament. The weather is beautiful year round. The beaches are sheer white. If you want to rent a home it will run you $4,946 for the week.
6. Kiawah Island, South Carolina
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

What a great local town for us in the Carolina’s to visit. Great golfing, shops, restaurants and of course the beaches. The down side? It will cost you $5,576 to rent a spot there for the week.
5. Folly Beach, South Carolina
(Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)

I know this beach town well. I spent many summers in Folly Beach. Love the whole vibe of the island. What I really didn’t know is that my wife is spending nearly $5,943 for us to vacation there. We split the house with friends but holy hell!
4. Malibu, California
(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Another Cali beach town is on the list. Like Laguna Beach, if you can weather the fires, the land slides and the celebrity bs then Malibu is there for you! Average home cost for a weekly rental? $6,150
3. East Hampton, New York
(Photo by Mat Szwajkos/CP/Getty Images for CP)

Wanna go to Diddy’s “White Party?” Wanna see celeb’s all over the place? Then head to East Hampton, located on Long Island. Bring your wallet though, a weekly rental is $6,178.
2. Southampton, New York
(Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Sir Ivan)

Another over the top Long Island beach town. Even more celebrities show up and hang. There’s a PGA golf event held yearly. Rent a home for the week in Southhampton for an average of $6,391!
1. Montauk, New York
(Photo by Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for Hamptons Magazine)

Party it up with John Legend. Hang on the beach, or spend thousands at dinner! This town, the most expensive beach town in the nation has an average cost of $6,454 a week!