Be On The Lookout For A New Invasive Species Of Spider In Tennessee This Year

Tennesseans aren’t surprised by the common house spider or even the spare brown recluse under the porch, but this year a new invasive species of spider in Tennessee may just elicit a few gasps from the most stalwart of folks. A large spider native to Japan has made its way from Asia to the United States, and it is hard at work spreading across the southeastern edge of the nation. You may be surprised now, but this yellow and black arachnid may just become as common as a cellar spider. We were curious, so we did some digging and found all the creepy, crawly details on this newfound Tennessee transplant.

Christina Butler - Wikimedia

Here you can see an up-close and personal shot of the Joro spider, known to the scientific community as the Trichophilia clavata. The tern "trichophilia" refers to a genus of spiders known as orb-weavers.

Claudio Sepúlveda Geoffroy - Flickr

An orb-weaver is the most common group of spiders that build their own webs as opposed to making their homes in holes or catching their prey by jumping, like the jumping spider. If you have ever seen those stunning, wheel-shaped webs out in the garden or perhaps in the garage then you have observed the work of an orb-weaver.

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Micha L. Rieser - Wikipedia

If you see a large Joro spider out in the wild, easily identifiable by their dark blue and yellow stripes on their backs and a rounded red spot on their bellies, then you are most likely in the presence of a female. The male spiders are much smaller and don’t boast the same brilliant coloring.

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Wikipedia

The Joro spider wasn’t found in the United States until 2014, though it is very common in Asian countries like Korea, Taiwan, China, and most notably, Japan. Here you can see a large grouping of the Joro spiders on an electric power cable in Tanabe. If you get up close, though we wouldn’t recommend it, the webs take on a golden tinge in the sunlight.

Koo Bearhill - Flickr

The spiders are populating rapidly in the United States, but there is no reason to fear. These bright arachnids nosh on mosquitos and stink bugs, and though they will bite if threatened, the harm remains minimal to humans.

Korall - Wikipedia

Have you seen a Joro spider in your neck of the woods? Though invasive, they are rapidly becoming a normal part of ecosystems in states like Georgia and Tennessee.

Yikes! What a neat and creepy new addition to Tennessee. It’s not just humans who are moving to the state in droves, and it sounds like we will be welcoming this newfound arachnid for years to come. Do you have your own thoughts about this invasive species of spider in Tennessee? Share with us in the comments section!