Giant Venomous Flying Joro Spiders Expected to Invade New York: What You Need to Know By Genae Shields and Jonathan Limehouse, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Giant Venomous Flying Joro Spiders Expected to Invade New York: What You Need to Know

By Genae Shields and Jonathan Limehouse, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Giant venomous flying spiders with 4-inch legs are real and could potentially invade the New York area this year, according to New Jersey Pest Control. Joro spiders, originally from Japan, are moving to the Northeast after first infiltrating the Southeastern U.S. Georgia was the "ground zero" for these arachnids in 2021, with sightings in both urban and rural areas, as reported by WUGA, the University of Georgia's public FM radio station.

Jason DiBiase, owner of Rochester Pest Pro and board member of the New York State Pest Management Association, notes that female Joro spiders have a leg span of about four inches and can live up to 12 months. While Rochester has not yet seen these spiders, DiBiase believes they might already be appearing in New York City and New Jersey.

DiBiase suspects the spiders could enter Rochester through truck shipments and the port, but their ability to survive the winter remains uncertain.

How to Spot a Giant Venomous Flying Spider According to Flanders, New Jersey-based pest control, Joro spiders are "hard to miss" due to their "striking appearance and distinct behavior." The spiders are vibrant yellow with black markings and can fly using a technique called "ballooning," where they release silk threads into the air to be carried by the wind.

How to Get Rid of Joro Spiders As the Joro spiders appear to be here to stay, there are no definitive ways to eliminate them. DiBiase suggests these preventative measures:

• Knocking down webs
• Exterior pest treatments
• Calling your local pest control company

How Did Joro Spiders Come to America? The theory is that Joro spiders were unintentionally transported to the U.S. through cargo shipments, international trade, and personal travel. Their ability to adapt to various environments and reproduce rapidly has helped them establish a presence in the Southeast.David Coyle, an invasive species expert at the University of Clemson, stated in October 2023, “This spider is going to be able to inhabit most of the eastern U.S.,” noting that their native range matches well with much of North America. Populations have already been seen as far north as Maryland.