What is a Joro spider?

Joro spiders are an invasive species of Golden orb weaver spider that were first discovered in North Georgia in 2014. How Joro spiders arrived in the United States is not fully known,but it's assumed their introduction was accidental through commerce and through hitchhiking in shipping containers from overseas. Since their discovery in the U.S. in 2014,the Joro spider has increased its range to areas in Alabama,North Carolina,South Carolina and Tennessee.

What does a Joro spider look like?

The key characteristics of a Joro spider are:Extremely long legs (legs can be four times as long as the body) Striped legs (often yellow and black) Bright colors (red,yellow,brown,blue,black) Usually appear in fall months (September and October) Weave distinct three-layered,orb-shaped,gold-tinted webs The adult female Joro spider is large and brilliantly colored with bright yellow and grey-blue bands and patterns on both its upper and lower abdomen. The cephalothorax is covered with silvery and golden hairs,and the legs are black with yellow bands.

Are Joro spiders poisonous?

Joro spiders are poisonous,but do not pose a danger to humans as they are typically reluctant to bite and their venom is very weak. The fangs of a Joro spider are essentially incapable of piercing or breaking human skin. Joro spiders will often only attempt to bite if they are being constrained. Science tells us that the Joro spider is not considered to be dangerous. In fact,these spiders are considered merely a nuisance to humans.

Are Joro spiders harmful to your pets?

Joro spider poison is extremely weak. If somehow the spider manages to puncture your pet's skin (which is unlikely),the animal may have an allergic reaction. Ingesting a Joro spider could cause an upset stomach.

What do Joro spiders eat?

A Joro spider's diet includes a variety of insects,such as mosquitos,stink bugs,yellow jackets and biting flies. They wait until a small insect gets tangled in their web. Once it's inside,the spider wraps the prey in silk and uses venom to subdue it.

What eats the Joro spider?

Joro spiders are typically food for birds and other predators that eat spiders and insects. Since these spiders are fairly new to the US,their role and impact on the ecosystem remains unclear.

Are Joro spiders a threat to native ecology?

As with most invasive,non-native species,there is a lot we don't yet know or understand about the Joro spider. Their impact on native species and environments is not clear right now,but many researchers believe their presence will not be threatening.

How are Joro spiders moving about the United States?

Joro spiders use two primary methods to move around. One method is by hitchhiking with humans – winding up in cargo shipped around the world and finding their way to new lands. The other method is through a process known as ballooning. Ballooning is when newly hatched spiderlings climb as high as they can,stand on raised legs and then release several threads of silk from their spinnerets. These thin silk threads act as a parachute of sorts. As they're being swept up in air currents,the spiderlings will travel with the wind.

Is control of the Joro spider necessary?

Due to their lack of medical and economic impact,control measures haven't been necessary or established for Joro spiders. The Joro spider is a nuisance pest and doesn't present enough of a threat to require pesticide applications. If Joro spiders and their webs are found on or around a structure,they can be removed with a broom or a cobweb removal brush.

Woodlouse Spider: Identification and Behavior

The woodlouse spider, scientifically known as Dysdera crocata, is a unique arachnid known for its distinctive reddish-brown body and large, powerful fangs. This spider belongs to the Dysderidae family and is commonly found in dark, damp environments where its favorite prey, woodlice, thrive.

Despite their fearsome appearance, woodlouse spiders are not considered dangerous to humans. However, like any spider, they can be unsettling to find in your home. If you're dealing with unwanted spiders indoors, contact Terminix today for professional spider control services.

What do woodlouse spiders look like?

Woodlouse spiders are medium-sized spiders that have a distinct appearance. Some characteristics that can make them easier to spot include:

Size: Adult woodlouse spiders range in size, but females are generally around half an inch long, and males are about one-quarter of an inch long.
Color: They have a reddish-brown cephalothorax (head region) and a creamy, pale yellow to gray abdomen. Their legs are also reddish-brown. They have prominent fangs that help them hunt for prey.
Habitat: Woodlouse spiders thrive in dark, damp environments like under rocks, logs, and compost piles. Indoors, they can typically be found in basements and garages.

Woodlouse spider top view

Are woodlouse spiders dangerous?

Woodlouse spiders are venomous, but their venom is generally not harmful to humans. They may bite if provoked, causing mild irritation, similar to a mosquito bite. Their venom is not potent enough to harm pets or other animals, but a woodlouse spider bite could cause minor irritation for them, too.

Woodlouse spiders are beneficial because they prey on pests like woodlice, centipedes, and other small insects, making them helpful in gardens and homes.

Do woodlouse spiders bite?

Yes, woodlouse spiders can bite, especially if threatened or provoked. However, they are not aggressive and typically avoid human contact. In most cases, woodlouse spider bites heal on their own without complications, but if symptoms worsen, seek medical attention.

Common symptoms of a woodlouse spider bite can include:

Mild pain: The bite may cause mild to moderate pain at the site.
Redness and swelling: The area around the bite might become red and swollen.
Itching or irritation: Some people may experience itching or irritation like a mosquito bite.

Woodlouse spider

How woodlouse spiders hunt

Woodlouse hunter spiders are usually found in dark, damp environments where their primary prey, woodlice, is abundant. Indoors, they can typically be found in basements, garages, and other areas with high humidity levels.

These spiders are nocturnal hunters and do not build webs to catch their prey. Instead, they actively hunt woodlice (also known as rolly pollies) and other small arthropods. They use their fangs to pierce their tough exoskeletons. This will kill their prey, and they can then consume it.

Woodlice

Life cycle of a woodlouse spider

The woodlouse spider’s lifecycle begins when a female lays eggs in a secure, dark location, often in a silk-lined retreat. After mating, she produces a small egg sac, which she guards until the spiderlings hatch. These spiderlings resemble miniature versions of the adults and go through several molts as they grow until they mature.

Woodlouse spiders generally have a lifespan of one to two years, depending on environmental conditions. The adults do not interact much beyond mating, and after reaching maturity, they focus on survival and reproduction.

How to help prevent woodlouse spiders in your house

To help prevent woodlouse spiders from entering your home:

Reduce moisture in and around your house, and fix any leaks.
Make sure damp areas like basements are properly ventilated. Using a dehumidifier can help.
Seal cracks and gaps in walls, doors, and windows to eliminate potential entry points.
Clear away leaf litter, woodpiles, and other debris near your home’s foundation.
Contact Terminix for spider control services.

If you’re seeing spiders in or around your home, our ongoing pest control plans are here to help! Our PestFree365 plans include an interior and exterior inspection and regularly scheduled treatments that can help prevent and remove spiders. Our PestFree365 plan offers protection from 25 common household pests,¹ while our PestFree365+ plan offers protection from 14 additional pests.²Schedule your inspection today!

¹Coverage includes: "House" Ants, Bird Mites, Indoor Ticks, Cockroaches, Carpet Beetles, Fabric Moths, Overwintering Insects, Ground Beetles, Centipedes, Crickets, Earwigs, Firebrats, Millipedes, Clover Mites, Pillbugs/Sowbugs, Psocids, Scorpions, Silverfish, Paper Wasps, Springtails, Spiders, Stored Product Beetles, Stored Product Moths, Mice, and Rats.

²Coverage includes: Black Widow Spiders, Brown Recluse Spiders, Voles (interior only), Bed Bugs, Fleas (interior only), Bumble Bees, Carpenter Bees, Solitary Ground Bees, Yellowjackets, Hornets, Baldfaced Hornets, Crazy Ants, Carpenter Ants, and Fire Ants.

What to know about the woodlouse spider in your house