A Joro spider in its web. (Ben Frick, co-author of study)The Joro spider, known for its distinctive yellow and blue coloring and uncomfortably large size, could soon invade the entire East Coast, a new study says.
In September 2021, researchers found the invasive species, which first made its way to the United States in 2013, spinning its webs all over northeast Georgia, covering power lines, bushes and mailboxes, but after scientists observed the spiders and tested its physiology, they concluded the species could potentially survive outside of the southeastern quadrant of the U.S., according to a study published in the journal Physiological Entomology.
Scientists compared the Joro spider to its close cousin, the golden silk spider, which has made its home in the southeast for over 160 years, according to the study but has yet to successfully invade other parts of the U.S.
Eastern Seaboard. Upon researching the physiology of the Joro spider in comparison with the golden silk spider, scientists found that the Joro spider was able to withstand colder climates than its cousin.