Everything You Need To Know About The Joro Spider

Trichonephila clavata, also known as the ‘Joro Spider,’ is a member of the golden orb-web spider genus. The spider can be found throughout Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, and, more recently, the Southeastern United States. Joro spiders are easily identified by their larger size and distinctive, gold-tinted multi-layered webs. They are a scary-looking spider, but should you be worried?

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Joro spider, including what to do when you find them.

Identifying The Joro Spider

• Size – Large-sized abdomen with even longer legs. Females have a body that’s roughly ⅔” – 1”, and males are roughly ¼” – ⅖”. Female Joro spiders in our region have been identified with leg spans measuring 3” – 4”.
• Color – Female spiders have deep blue and yellow bands on their legs, and the abdomen is an infusion of red, yellow, and black in asymmetrical patterns. Males are plainer as they only have a brown body.
• Sightings – Joro spiders are typically seen mostly during the fall months (September & October).
• Lifespan – Approximately one year.

Where Did the Joro Spider Come From?

The Joro spider is native to Asia but has been spotted frequently in the Southeastern United States in recent years. Reports from the University of Georgia claim the first sightings of the spider were between 2013 and 2014. Scientists used genetic analysis to confirm those sightings as Joro spiders in 2015, and Georgia Museum of Natural History collections director Rick Hoebeke tracked them as they spread throughout the state. Scientists think they arrived as stowaways on cargo ships. Since then, the spider has grown in mass numbers within the state, as they’ve been sighted in nearly 25 different counties. 

This genus of spiders has an ingenious way of spreading. They use a ballooning technique, in which the spiders spin a web to catch the air current, allowing them to fly for 50-100 miles before latching onto a tree. Joro spiders thrive on the edge of woods and around homes and are often found congregating in groups.

Are Joro Spiders Dangerous To Humans?

With their long-banded legs and large abdomens, these spiders may seem intimidating, but they’re not dangerous to people. Like all spiders, they’re venomous, but a single bite could be compared to a small bee sting. However, unless a person is specifically allergic to Joro spiders, they shouldn’t be concerned.

Can You Prevent Them?

There are many ways to prevent spiders from entering your home. Here are a few:

• Keep a tidy home.
• Don’t leave food out that will attract other insects, which, in turn, will attract spiders.
• Vacuum up spider webs on a regular basis.
• Seal up any cracks or entry points in your home.
• Keep up with landscaping. Don’t keep plants or vegetation directly against your home.

Spider Control In the Southeastern United States

All of these things may help to eliminate and prevent spiders, however, only a qualified spider control professional can ensure that the infestation in your house has been properly dealt with. We have three decades worth of necessary skills and experience to treat your spider infestation correctly so that you can rest assured spiders aren’t crawling around in your home.

If you need spider control service, call Lookout Pest Control today for a free estimate.