Joro spiders find a home in Oglethorpe County
A female Joro spider rests on her web on Nov. 4, 2025, in Winterville, Ga. Like other orb weaver spiders, Joros build large circular webs mostly at night to catch prey. (Gabrielle Gruszynski/The Oglethorpe Echo)
Big, brightly colored and impossible to miss, Oglethorpe County residents are spotting Joro spiders everywhere this fall.
“It’s just a crazy density,” said Elmer Gray, University of Georgia entomologist and Arnoldsville resident. “You could look up at the power lines and every 10 feet there’d be webs along the power lines.”
The Joro spider (Trichonephila calvata) was first spotted in Braselton in 2014. Joros are native to Japan and China and it’s thought they arrived in the U.S. on a shipping container.
Since then, they’ve rapidly spread throughout Georgia and the Southeast.
“They (Joros) have such a wide range climate that they could tolerate and thrive in,” said William Hudson, a retired UGA extension specialist and entomology professor who lives in Winterville. “They would’ve been just as successful if they landed in Virginia or anywhere else.”
A sticky situation, but not dangerous
Despite their intimidating size, Joros don’t pose a threat to humans or pets.
“Direct threat to people is non-existent,” Hudson said.
Joro spider venom isn’t strong enough to cause pain or an allergic reaction, and they tend to retreat when approached, but Gray said he’s seen lizards called green anoles caught in their webs.
“Seeing a native animal eaten by an invasive spider was a little shocking,” he said.
Also, the Joros’ high-tensile silk can make encounters unpleasant for anyone who accidentally walks into a web.
“The web itself is really sticky, and it’s really strong,” Hudson said. “You’ll spend the rest of the day pulling silk off of you.”
Are they hurting the local ecosystem?
There’s no evidence that Joro spiders are causing measurable ecological damage.
“We have not been able to find any evidence that they directly impact our other spiders,” Hudson said. “They might compete a bit, but even that doesn’t seem to happen.”
Gray and Hudson advise being mindful of where the spiders set up their webs. They can generally be left alone in less-trafficked areas, such as shrubs or the outer edges of yards.
However, Joro webs should be cleared away from gardens and bee hives to protect pollinators.
Controlling the Joro spider
When it comes to managing Joros, prevention and maintenance can make the biggest difference.
“I found, around my home, that a shop vac was very good for removing them around a porch and deck,” Gray said.
Pest control companies have also adjusted their methods.
Brad Turner, owner and operator of Small Town Pest Control, said the spiders became more prominent in Oglethorpe County in 2019 and quickly became a nuisance.
“If they (homeowners) have concerns with their property or their well-being, call a professional,” Turner said. “We’re not just here to make money. We’re here to help the consumer feel safe in and around their home.”
Turner also recommends a “green pest control” approach for homeowners who want to avoid pesticides.
“Removing the webbing and be consistent with it,” Turner said. “Each time you remove it, you take energy out of that spider to build that web back again, to try to catch food again.”
Turner suggests an extendable pole with a brush head to reach higher areas, while Hudson advises using a broom for web removal.
A place in the neighborhood
Whether admired for their beauty or cursed for their webs, the Joro spider appears to have found a permanent home in Oglethorpe County.
Still, residents may find some comfort in knowing the fall influx won’t last forever.
As cooler months arrive, many spiders die off naturally, leaving behind egg sacs for next year’s crop.
“We're not trying to get rid of all of them,” Gray said. “We're just trying to keep them down so that it's decent around your home for a barbecue on Thursday night or (a) Sunday afternoon picnic.”