Invasive Species
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The publication gives basic biology and description, with images, of the spider’s immature and adult forms, along with recommendations for managing them around the home. The Joro spider is a native of Japan and East Asia that was first documented in the United States in 2014 in northeast Georgia. The initial population appeared to be centered around Braselton and Hoschton, GA, along I-85. By 2022, the spiders had spread about 75 miles in all directions from that initial detection. The native range of these spiders in Asia extends from southeast Asia northward through a swath of eastern China, the Korean peninsula, and all but the northernmost island of Japan, and westward to India and the foothills of the Himalayas. Given that distribution, there seems to be no obstacle to the Joro eventually expanding its range to include all of Georgia, the Southeast, and most of the rest of the eastern U.S. as well.
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The Joro spider is native to East Asia and was first detected in Georgia in 2014. It is found in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and is spreading to adjacent regions. It has one generation per year in its native range.
Adult females become sexually mature in September and early October. The female’s body is bright yellow with broad, horizontal bluish-green bands on the top side of the abdomen, and large red markings on the bottom side of the abdomen. She also has long, black legs with yellow-orange bands or—rarely—all black legs. Adult males mature by late August. The male’s cephalothorax is light brown with two dark brown long bands on both sides. His abdomen is elongate-oval with a greenish-brown topside that has two yellowish long stripes on both sides of the dark brown middle line.
Are Joros disrupting the ecosystem and displacing native species? This is a big question that a newly formed team of scientists is working on. However, we also need your help. The first thing we need to know is where Joro spiders are. Use the Joro Watch website (https://jorowatch.org) or the EDDMapS app to submit observations from parks, forests, and even your own yard. Fill out the report form and, if you can, count how many Joro spiders you see and upload pictures.
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The brown marmorated stink bug is a landscape and agricultural pest in the United States. They seek dark and dry sites—such as a vehicle parked near trees—in the fall in which to overwinter. This pest is reported to feed on more than 170 plant species, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. This stink bug also is a nuisance pest as they aggregate and overwinter in man-made structures beginning in late fall.
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The Tawny crazy ant is a highly invasive species from South America. It was introduced into port cities in Florida and Texas. It was detected in Albany, GA, in August 2013 and in Camden and Glynn counties in Georgia in August 2014. The ant somewhat resembles the invasive Argentine ant. This circular is meant to help homeowners and pest management professionals identify the Tawny crazy ant and differentiate it from the Argentine ant (also known as ‘sugar ants’).
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This publication contains basic information about slime molds, Spanish moss, lichens and mistletoe.
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