Georgia Magazine - November 2021 - 8

GEORGIA News
Compiled by Jennifer J. Hewett
T
Joro spiders take up residence
he look of Halloween came early to North
Georgia in September as millions of palmsized
Joro spiders suspended themselves in
golden webs on porches, power lines and mailboxes
in roughly 25 counties in the state-and counting.
It seems Georgians will need to get comfortable
with this new arachnid in town because, according
to scientists, it's not going anywhere.
Three years ago, University of Georgia (UGA)
entomologist Will Hudson was excited when two big
Joro spiders appeared on his property in Winterville.
He enjoys watching spiders, and this new species
was exceptional with its unusual golden web. The
females have red markings
on their bellies.
" Last year, there were
dozens of spiders, and they
began to be something of a
nuisance when I was doing
yard work, " he said. " This
year, I have several hundred,
and they actually make
the place look spooky with
all the messy webs-like
a scene out of [the movie]
'Arachnophobia.' "
Joros to come
Joros were first identified in the state in 2014 by
Rick Hoebeke, collections manager at UGA's Georgia
Museum of Natural History in Athens, when a call
came in about an unusual spider found by a citizen.
Hoebeke then led an effort to identify the East Asia
native spider and track the Joro as it spread throughout
Georgia.
" Our best guess is that it came in a shipping
container and dropped off here somewhere on
Interstate 85 in the Braselton area, " Hoebeke said
of his tracking research. " They are great little
hitchhikers! "
As far as invasive species go, Hoebeke believes
this one is " not so bad. " Hundreds of people have
sent emails this year, concerned about how many
spiders are in their yards and Hoebeke has tried to
convince them that paying exterminators will not
solve the problem.
Though the spiders are still being studied, UGA
scientists say they have not noticed any negative effects
on any native species, which was one concern.
The only negative effect seems to be the nuisance
8 Georgia Magazine November 2021
Above: A female Joro spider is suspended in entomologist
Will Hudson's yard in Winterville. The invasive spider
is harmless to humans, and researchers are examining its
impact on local ecology. The red coloring on the spider's
belly helps distinguish it from other yellow garden spiders.
Left: UGA entomologist Nancy Hinkle compares an adult
female Joro spider to the size of her hand. She says the
spiders provide " free pest control. "
caused by their extreme numbers this year. Experts agree that, over time,
Mother Nature will take its course and the numbers will be more moderate.
" I think people need to make peace with Joros and accept the spiders
because they are not going anywhere, " Hoebeke said.
" [Joros are] beautiful creatures that provide free pest control, " said
UGA entomologist Nancy Hinkle. " [They] present us with excellent
opportunities to suppress pests naturally, without chemicals, so I'm
trying to convince people that having zillions of large spiders and their
webs around is a good thing! "
Hinkle said they help suppress mosquitoes and biting flies, and Joros
are one of the few spiders that eat brown marmorated stink bugs, which
are serious pests to many crops. Scientists are hopeful that the Joro spiders
will help make a dent in these populations. But Hinkle said that the leggy
arachnid is not interested in biting humans.
" As with all orb weavers, [Joros] have small mouth parts, " she said.
For those truly concerned, most Joros will have died off by late November,
Hinkle said, but they will leave behind egg sacs full of eggs. When the
hatchlings emerge in the spring, they will ride the wind on strands of silk,
perhaps extending their habitat.
Selective elimination
Joros are harmless to humans and generally large enough to avoid,
unless hundreds are enjoying life around your home.
Hudson uses different methods to kill off only the necessary offenders.
COURTESY UGA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL
AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COURTESY UGA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Georgia Magazine - November 2021

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