Huge invasive spiders from Asia could spread to much of U.S. East Coast, scientists say

Researchers say that a large spider originated in East Asia proliferated in Georgia last year it could extend to much of the east coast.

The golden spider web Joro seized meters from all over northern Georgia in 2021, baffling some residents. According to the University of Georgia, millions of large spiders weaved three-dimensional golden webs in dozens of counties.

The spider was also seen in South Carolina and entomologists expected it to spread throughout the southeast.

A new study suggests it could extend even further. Joro seems more suitable for colder temperatures than a related species, researchers at the University of Georgia said in an article published last month.

He has about twice his metabolism, a 77% higher heart rate and can survive a brief freeze that kills his relatives, the study found.

The researchers also noted that humpback whales are found in much of Japan, which has a climate similar to that of the United States.

“Just looking at it, it looks like the Joros could probably survive on most of the east coast here, which is quite worrisome,” study co-author Andy Davis said in a statement.

The Joro – Trichonephila clavata – is part of a group of spiders known as orb weavers for their highly organized, wheel-shaped nets. Joro females have yellow, blue, and red colored markings on their bodies and can measure three inches in diameter when their legs are fully extended.

It is unclear exactly how and when the first Joro spider arrived in the U.S. or why they were so abundant in Georgia last year. WGCL-TV reported that the spiders were believed to have arrived in a shipping container that was dropped off somewhere off Interstate 85 in Georgia. They were first identified in the state in 2014 by Rick Hoebeke with the Georgia Museum of Natural History.

Their impact on native species and the environment is also unclear, although some researchers believe they are benign.

Nancy Hinkle, an entomologist at the University of Georgia, said Joros helps suppress mosquitoes and bite flies and is one of the few spiders that will catch and eat brown stinking insects, which are serious pests for many crops.

“That’s wonderful. That’s exciting. Spiders are our friends,” he said. “They’re out there catching all the pests we don’t want in our house.”

Ann Rypstra, who studies spider behavior at the University of Miami, was more cautious in her assessment of Jora’s potential impacts, saying more research was needed.

“I would always be wrong on the side of caution when you have something set where it shouldn’t be,” he said.

In:
• spider
• Georgia
• Joro
• East Coast