Giant Invasive Joro Spiders Have Spread to Yet Another Area of the U.S.

Joro spiders have been spotted in a part of Georgia that has never seen the invasive species before.

The spider, also known as Trichonephila clavata, was seen in the grounds of the University of Georgia research and education garden in the city of Griffin, reported local newspaper the Griffin Daily News.

It is thought to be the first documented sighting of the species in Spalding County, Georgia.

The brightly colored species is native to East Asia and was first reported in the U.S. in 2013. It is not known how they got to the U.S., but it is possible the spiders arrived in a shipping container. They have since become prevalent in Georgia, in particular.

Joro spiders can grow up to 3 inches long, the size of a person's palm, and have bright yellow and black stripes. They weave large webs with golden or yellow-looking silk.

The species is venomous. A bite from a Joro spider may feel similar to a bee sting, but they are not considered dangerous to humans.

Invasive species can damage their new surroundings because they have not adapted to the environment. Some invasive species feast on native wildlife, decreasing their populations and taking away vital contributors to the ecosystem.

Andy Davis, a research scientist at the University of Georgia's Odum School of Ecology, told Newsweek that it was "still too early to say" if the spiders were harmful or not. Research is underway to investigate this, he added.

Davis, who has a particular interest in Joro spiders, said: "So far, it doesn't look like they are harming the ecosystem, at least in the same way as other invasives are—like the spotted lanternfly in the northeast.

"In fact, there is evidence that some native species may be benefiting from these new spiders. For example, there is a native spider that hangs out in other spiderwebs and steals food. I have seen that species—called a dewdrop spider—in some Joro webs. There is also evidence that some lizards and birds have been eating these spiders."

Joro spiders have an emergence life cycle, which means adult females lay an egg sac and die at the end of fall. The egg sac then hatches the following spring.

"So far, we think these spiders are quite harmless," said Davis. "They are actually quite shy, and will more than likely run away if disturbed from their web.

"The other thing that people need to hear is that these spiders are here to stay. At this point, there is no stopping their spread. And, even if people go out of their way to kill every one they see in their yard, they will simply be back the next year. I've been telling people to learn to live with them. That's a tough sell, though"

Scientists have predicted that Joro spiders will soon spread beyond their current range in the southeastern corner of the U.S.

Robert Furey, a spider behavior specialist at Harrisburg University in Pennsylvania, told Newsweek that all spiders tend to get a bad reputation.

"Some are much less dangerous than others. The Joro are among the least offensive spiders out there," he said. "Joros in general are very docile and do not bite. Their jaws are too weak to pierce human skin."