Where Have Joro Spiders Been Reported?

A Joro Watch isn’t easy. Spiders can’t be tagged in the same way as a turtle.

If you live in northeast Georgia, you’ve seen them in your yard. Likewise, if you live in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and China—they are common there. I (and quite a few actual scientists) predict they’ll take over the American South much like kudzu has.

Harmful or helpful? So far, helpful, but that remains a hearty debate. I’m hopeful that remains true.

This is from a North American perspective, not East Asia where they are a native species. It’s primarily thought of as from Japan, but can also be found in South Korea, China, and Taiwan.

First spotted in Hoschton, Georgia in 2013, it has found its way throughout northeast Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. Take a look at a map below developed by University of North Georgia scientists in 2020. Their map is pretty cool as well as thorough.

Anywhere (Almost) Where the Wind Blows

With each breeding season, expect their reach to grow. Where the wind blows, literally, it where they can go. Plus, as they managed to make it from Asia to the United States, hitchhiking is within their skillset. If they can go 11,000 miles from Tokyo to Hoschton, Georgia, they can surely manage a 100-mile trip.

A study published in the journal Physiological Entomology says the Joro spider is heartier than first thought. It says the Joro can survive cold weather. That means states farther north than previously expected might see the colorful spider. (“Physiological evaluation of newly invasive jorō spiders (Trichonephila clavata) in the southeastern USA compared to their naturalized cousin, Trichonephila clavipes” February 17, 2022)

“It looks like the Joros could probably survive throughout most of the Eastern Seaboard,” says Andy Davis, Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia. It seems that it can survive brief freezes and thereby be able to live beyond the more temperate climate of the American South.

It’s unclear which states they will finally settle, so we are watching as I hope you are as well.

Have you seen any? Get a good snap and post it in our Facebook group. Tell us where (city), what context (under your eaves, on the playset, etc.), when, and anything interesting. If you take an especially good one, we might ask if we can use it on our site (with full credit to you). Happy Trails!