Joro Spiders Myths

Joro Spider Season is Here

If you live in the South, here’s a strong chance you’ve seen a Joro spider. You’ve likely also noticed other orb spiders (easy to get mixed up at first glance). Let’s address a couple myths and concerns:

• They aren’t aggressive. They won’t jump on you. If there’s one on you, you walked into their web. What would you do if a stranger walked into your house uninvited?
• They don’t fly. When they are fresh-hatched, they catch the wind and are blown like dandelion seeds. They’re looking for love. They land and stay close to that spot. Eight legs, no wings. Count ’em.
• Your skin likely won’t break the skin if they do bite you. The worst you will get it is the heebie-jeebies. Possibly, in more severe cases, the willies.
• They don’t kill hummingbirds (possible to catch but that’s an extreme rarity). If they catch a Jabberwocky, beware!
• They don’t build webs in houses. You won’t find them in dark basements. That would be the black widow, a much smaller, much more venomous spider.
• Spraying them is largely ineffective. Use a broom instead. Especially brave men will step on them (but only with steel-toed, industrial strength boots), thinking this will stop the spider. That one spider might be gone, but there are now millions of them. You might feel better, but you aren’t winning.
• Your children are safe. No children have been reported missing and later found drained. You’re confusing reality with Eight Legged Freaks.
• Yes, some people can be allergic to this spider as commonly as any other spider, but the poison itself is no more harmful than a bee sting for most people. Learn about spider bites. Talk to your doctor.