How to identify and get rid of Joro spiders

Everyone gets a little uneasy when they see a black and yellow spider with a four-inch leg span dangling from a web in mid-air. This exotic kind of creature can stir up lots of emotions, ranging from fear to curiosity.

Joro spiders have caused a lot of hype and sensation along the East Coast as these invasive spiders continue to spread year after year. Joro spiders are originally from East Asia and hitched a ride to the U.S. in 2013.

These spiders spread when they are juveniles. They do this through a behavior called “ballooning.” Spiderlings will release a single line of silk and then float on the electrostatic charges in the air. This can carry them great distances to disperse and settle in new areas away from competing spiders.

Joro spiders have adapted quite well to life in the States, spinning their large, golden webs across our yards and gardens. There is a concern that as they spread, they might disrupt local ecosystems, but for now, they don’t seem to be a bother.

Joro spiders are best identified by their long black legs and large yellow abdomens. The females are larger than males and have yellow and blue stripes, with some red on the bottom side of their abdomen.

Females spin large webs using golden-colored silk. These webs are huge and can be over 6 feet wide.

Some common characteristics include:

• Yellow and blue markings
• Large, golden webs
• Long, thin black legs

How big are Joro spiders?

The body of the spider is only ½ to 1 inch long, but with a 4-inch wide leg span, they are about as big as a human hand.

What other pest looks like a Joro spider?

Joro spiders can be mistaken for common garden spiders or banana spiders, but Joro spiders are much bigger and have wider webs.

Originally from Asia, Joro spiders have been increasingly found in the southeastern U.S., particularly in Georgia and the surrounding states. You’ll find them primarily outdoors. They like to spin their webs in trees, shrubs, under eaves, and around other structures where they can catch plenty of sunlight—and bugs!

Joro spiders can look menacing, but they aren’t that difficult to get rid of. Here are a few ways you can make sure Joro spiders don’t linger around your home:

• Web Removal: Regularly remove webs with a broom or hose to discourage re-settlement.
• Physical Barriers: Install screens on windows and seal gaps around doors to prevent them from coming indoors.
• Natural Predators: Encourage birds and wasps in your yard, as they are natural predators of spiders.
• Perimeter spray: Spray and maintain a bug barrier with a great quality product like Pestie. This will eliminate spiders from your home and prevent other pests from wandering inside.