Joro Spider
ExploreInvertebrate
Joro Spider
trichonephila clavata
The Joro spider is a striking, large orb-weaver that commands attention with its vibrant colors and massive webs. Native to East Asia, including Japan, Korea, and China, this fascinating arachnid has recently made headlines as a rapidly spreading invasive species in the Southeastern United States. Named after the 'Jorōgumo,' a legendary shape-shifting spider from Japanese folklore, it weaves enormous, multi-layered webs of golden silk that can span several feet across. Despite their intimidating size and alien-like appearance, Joro spiders are incredibly timid and pose virtually no threat to humans or pets. Instead, they act as highly efficient pest controllers, catching everything from mosquitoes to invasive stink bugs, making them an interesting, albeit controversial, addition to their new ecosystems.
Habitat: Found in open woodlands and forest edges, often spinning large golden webs between trees or shrubs.
Appearance
Female Joro spiders are highly conspicuous, featuring a cylindrical abdomen adorned with striking bands of bright yellow, dark blue or black, and a prominent bright red patch on their underside. Their long, spindly legs are distinctly banded with black and yellow. Females are quite large, with a body length of about 1 inch (1.5 to 3 cm) and a leg span reaching up to 4 inches (10 cm). In stark contrast, male Joro spiders are much smaller—often only a quarter of the female's size—and sport a dull, brown appearance that makes them easily overlooked as they hang out on the periphery of the female's massive golden web.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassArachnidaOrderAraneaeFamilyNephilidaeGenusTrichonephila
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Despite their large fangs and menacing appearance, their bite is remarkably weak and rarely breaks human skin; if it does, it feels no worse than a bee sting.
The spider gets its name from the Jorōgumo, a mythical Japanese creature that can shape-shift into a beautiful woman to ensnare unsuspecting men.
Their webs are incredibly complex, consisting of a central orb and irregular silk layers in front and behind, sometimes reaching up to 10 feet in depth.
They are among the very few predators that willingly eat the brown marmorated stink bug, a heavily armored agricultural pest that most birds and spiders avoid.
Special abilities
Ability
Golden Silk Snare
Produces highly durable, golden-tinted silk that is strong enough to capture large insects and even occasionally tiny vertebrates.
Ability
Aerial Ballooning
Spiderlings extrude long strands of silk into the wind to take flight, allowing them to disperse over distances of tens to hundreds of miles.
Ability
Cold Tolerance
Unlike many related tropical orb-weavers, they can survive brief freezes, enabling them to expand their range into cooler northern climates.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 1-3 cm
- Weight
- 0.0005-0.0015 kg
- Lifespan
- 1 years
- Clutch Size
- 400-1500
- Incubation
- 150-180 days
Diet & Feeding
They are highly opportunistic predators that consume almost any flying or jumping insect that blunders into their massive webs.
Age differences: Spiderlings eat tiny midges and gnats, while mature adults tackle much larger, robust prey like wasps and stink bugs.
Primary Foods
- Stink bugs
- Mosquitoes
- Yellowjackets
- Biting flies
- Moths
Foraging Method
- Ambush
Ecological connections
hunts
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Halyomorpha halys
Joro spiders act as a primary predator for the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.
parasite
Dew-drop Spider
Argyrodes spp.
Dew-drop spiders live as kleptoparasites in Joro webs, stealing their captured prey.
eaten by
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Birds like the Northern Cardinal have been observed picking Joro spiders from their webs to eat.
competitor
Golden Silk Orb-weaver
Trichonephila clavipes
Competes for web-building space and prey with native American orb-weavers.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Joro Spider?
The easiest way to identify Joro Spider is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Joro Spider?
1-3 cm
How much does Joro Spider weigh?
0.0005-0.0015 kg
How long does Joro Spider live?
1 years
What does Joro Spider eat?
They are highly opportunistic predators that consume almost any flying or jumping insect that blunders into their massive webs.
Where is Joro Spider usually found?
Found in open woodlands and forest edges, often spinning large golden webs between trees or shrubs.
How does Joro Spider hunt?
Ambush
How many eggs does Joro Spider lay?
400-1500
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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Where to spot
Park30 sightings12 species
South Carolina, US
Anderson University
You might spot Anole, Green Treefrog, and Eastern Gray Squirrel.
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Park30 sightings12 species
Georgia, US
Berry College
You might spot Strawberry Bush, Fire Pink, and Red Salamander.
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Park30 sightings12 species
Georgia, US
Calhoun Downtown Historic District
You might spot Joro Spider, American Pokeweed, and Eastern Gray Squirrel.
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Park30 sightings12 species
Georgia, US
Candler Park Historic District
You might spot Anole, Asian Lady Beetle, and Joro Spider.
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Park30 sightings12 species
South Carolina, US
Conestee Nature Preserve
You might spot Joro Spider, Pickerelweed, and Great Blue Heron.
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Park30 sightings12 species
Georgia, US
Consolidated Gold Mine
You might spot Joro Spider, Eastern Gray Squirrel, and Christmas Fern.
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