The New Spider In Georgia. . .The Joro Spider

Jorō Spider

Trichonephila clavata

Jorō Spider

Have you heard about the East Asian native spider known as the Jorō spider that found its way into Jefferson, GA? This invasive species is a member of the Trichonephila genus. The spider can be found throughout Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China and now in Jackson County Georgia. It was first discovered by a gardener in Hoschton, GA in 2013, since its discovery in Jackson County, these creepy crawlers are spreading rapidly across North Georgia cities including; Jefferson, Braselton, Attica, and into Athens - Clarke County. Now Jorō spiders are expanding their reach into neighboring states along the east coast. ​

Jorō Spider Characteristics:

The Jorō spider can be commonly confused with the banana spider & the garden spider, the Jorō spider shares the same similarities with their black and yellow markings. The biggest difference between the two spiders is their web placement. Banana spiders and garden spiders will build the webs closer to the ground. However, the Jorō spider will build their web higher off the ground, you can find their webs above your head. ​

Yellow Garden Spider

Golden Silk Orb Weaver

• Rich yellow with broad horizontal bluish-green bands on the top of the abdomen
• Large red markings to the rear of the abdomen
• Yellow and black banded legs
• Female length is 17-25mm, while the males length is 7-10 mm
• A female Jorō spider can lay about 400-1500 eggs in one egg sack

Are The Jorō Spiders A Problem?

Since Jorō spiders can multiply in great quantities, they have become more of a nuisance for most homeowners. Our native species of orb weaver spiders can produce approximately 200-500 eggs compared to the 400-1500 eggs the Jorō spiders produce. 

When it comes to nature's pest control, spiders are very beneficial insects; the Jorō spider is no exception. When it comes to feeding on various insects, orb-weaver spiders diet is broad when it comes to feeding on insects, like biting flies, beetles, and even the invasive brown marmorated stink bug which was first discovered in America in 1998.

Entomologists and bug experts have all come to the same conclusion, an article written by Beth Gavrilles says it the best "Like It or Not, Jorō Spiders are Here to Stay". She quoted the director of the Georgia Museum of Natural History Byron Freeman, “My guess is that this will be no different than the banana spider, and I don’t know that we can assess what the effect of the banana spider has been at this point,”.

So in conclusion it sounds like the Jorō spider has made Jefferson County its new home, certainly this uninvited  pest is now a long term guest in Jackson, GA.

References
​UGA scientists confirm first North American record of East Asian Jorō spider - By Beth Gavrilles -  UGA Today - March 17, 2015
Like it or not, Jorō spiders  are here to stay - By Beth Gavrilles - UGA Today - Oct 26, 2020
New stink bug stinking up Georgia  - By April Reese Sorrow - CAES NewsWire - Oct 19, 2011
Jorō spiders are here to stay - Walter Reeves Website
Jorō spiders out in force across North Georgia - By Avery Newmark - AJC Oct 31, 2021
Jorō spider, first discovered in Georgia, makes its way to neighboring states - By Sean Saldana - NPR March 16, 2022
The Jorō spider is an invasive species, but you don't need to fear the invasion - By Adam Larson - NBC News - March 9, 2022