North Georgia residents are increasingly encountering the distinctive black and yellow Joro spider, a large arachnid that first hitched a ride from East Asia around 2014 and has since established a booming population across the region, including Chattooga County and its surrounding Northwest Georgia neighbors.

Data from the University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health showed more than 2,200 confirmed Joro sightings last year, an increase from approximately 1,900 the previous year. Researchers believe the actual population is significantly higher, fueled by female Joros, which can boast a leg span exceeding three inches and lay up to 500 eggs starting in mid-October.

While their imposing size might cause alarm, Joro spiders pose no known danger to people or pets. They are generally inclined to flee rather than fight when disturbed. However, this offers “cold comfort” to those who accidentally walk face-first into their remarkably thick, sticky webs, often strung across front porches or forest trails.

The more pressing unknown, according to Rebekah Wallace with UGA’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, is their potential impact on Georgia’s crops or native ecosystem. “We don’t know that at this time. They’re still being researched,” Wallace stated.

Unlike some invasive species like the honeybee-killing yellow-legged hornet, whose negative impacts are often predicted, Joro spiders were not “on the radar” for most researchers initially, leaving scientists without a “head start” in understanding their potential long-term effects. “Whereas something that came in that is going to be a known impact on some of our crop species, they know ahead of time, ‘OK, this is going to impact this crop species, which is potentially going to have these economic impacts.’ But we didn’t have that kind of head start for Joro spiders,” Wallace explained.

To aid in tracking the spiders’ spread and better understand their habits, citizens are encouraged to submit sightings to jorowatch.org, a platform developed by the University of Georgia. Peak Joro spotting season runs from August through October. Starting Monday and running through October 12, those who submit Joro reports can enter their photos into a contest for bragging rights and spider stickers. Wallace noted that last year’s contest period alone yielded over 500 confirmed reports, proving invaluable for data collection.

Wallace also provided tips for distinguishing Joros from the native golden silk orb weaver. Adult female Joros have a yellow abdomen with bluish-green bands on the back and a black and yellow belly featuring a reddish splotch. Their legs are typically black and yellow, though occasionally all black. In contrast, golden silk orb weavers have a more orange body with whitish, silvery spots, and yellow legs with brownish bands that, as Wallace describes, often have “huge tufts of hair on them… They look like they’re wearing leg warmers.”

While some invasive pests, like the Spotted Lanternfly, are deemed dangerous enough to warrant “kill on sight” protocols, the Joro spider does not fall into this category. Its mystery, however, continues to intrigue and challenge researchers across the state.