Today’s post takes us outside the Okefenokee. But who knows if this foreign invader will eventually spread through Georgia and into the swamp???
Although it didn’t cause national hysteria like the beetle invasion of 1964 (or was it Beatles in the British Invasion???), I did happen to hear about the Jorō Spider invasion of 2014. There were a few articles and blogs as this East Asian species was first discovered in Madison County, Georgia, not far from my home town of Athens.
A University of Georgia article wrote, “The Jorō spider, native Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan, belongs to a group of large spiders known as golden orb-web weavers that make enormous, multi-layered webs of gold-colored silk. [Researchers] suspect the Jorō spider arrived accidentally as a hitchhiker either in shipping containers or among shipped packing materials such as pallets and crates or even on live plant material.”
Introduced and invasive species often impact the native species and can even upset the balance of an entire ecosystem, such as the pythons in the Everglades. While Jorō Spider pose no threat to humans, it is unknown if they will adversely affect the native Yellow Garden Spider by competing in the same niche.
In 2018 I began to see them pop up regularly in iNaturalist observations in Georgia. But it wasn’t until today that I found one in my own backyard. It was nearly impossible to miss. A strand of the thick web extended from the top of my backyard cypress, and about 15 to 20 feet at a downward angle and anchored to another lower bush. In the middle, suspended in a tangled web just above a Yucca, hung the ornately patterned female. A few days later I noticed a smaller spider “hanging out” with her. It was identified by other iNat users as the male of the species.
There are now over 300 sightings of the Jorō Spider posted on iNaturalist in Georgia, and two in South Carolina. Who knows how far and wide this invasion will sweep, or if it will have as long lasting an impact as the British Invasion that forever changed the music landscape of the world!
Okefenokee Photography Project by William Wise 
Fascinating post, William! Are there any efforts to irradicate the alien spiders? I know there is a yearly python hunt in the Everglades. Take care, Cheryl
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When she first arrived I wondered if she should be irradicated. I asked on iNaturalist and the basic answer was to do what was in line with my ethics. But if they’ve spread this far in the last few years, I’m not sure killing one in my backyard would make a difference. So I have left her for now. The coming colder weather will probably end her reign of my backyard! On another note, if I didn’t have a steady job already, I was quite tempted to sign up for Florida’s Python Bounty Hunter Squads! William
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Great info, William. I enjoyed the comparison to the British Invasion of the 1960s. I’m curious to hear the rest of the story after you discovered the pair of invaders in your backyard.
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Well, as of yesterday evening she was still “hanging out” in my backyard. Even through the heavy rains brought to us after Hurricane Sally, her web stood up. I don’t see too many prey items in the web, but it is so thick and strong I’ve been worried a fast flying hummingbird might get caught up in it. William
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Very interesting William! And well documented with your images! Thanks!
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I have quite a few in my Forsyth County yard.
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You put my Yellow Garden Spider shots to shame!
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She is still in my backyard and getting much more plump. If she keeps growing I may just win the scariest Halloween decorating contest in my neighborhood!
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Just happened upon this blog via a rabbit trail through the web that ended up in Joro land. Great writing and photography.
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