Millions of the large Joro spiders spun three-dimensional golden webs in dozens of Georgia counties last year
The Joro spider's golden web took over yards all over north Georgia in 2021, unnerving some residents. Millions of the large spiders spun three-dimensional golden webs in dozens of counties, The spider was also spotted in South Carolina, and entomologists expected it to spread throughout the Southeast.
The Joro spider, a large spider native to East Asia, is seen in Johns Creek, Georgia, on Oct. 24, 2021. A new study suggests it could spread even farther than that. The Joro appears better suited to colder temperatures than a related species, researchers at the University of Georgia said in a paper published last month.
It has about double the metabolism, a 77% higher heart rate and can survive a brief freeze that kills off its relatives, the study found. The researchers also noted that Joros are found in much of Japan, which has a similar climate to the U.S. "Just by looking at that, it looks like the Joros could probably survive throughout most of the Eastern seaboard here, which is pretty sobering," study co-author Andy Davis said in a statement. - is part of a group of spiders known as orb weavers for their highly organized, wheel-shaped webs. Joro females have colorful yellow, blue and red markings on their bodies and can measure three inches across when their legs are fully extended.