GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – Great Smoky Mountains National Park is asking visitors and residents to help researchers track the spread of the invasive Joro spider, a large orb-weaving species that has gradually expanded its range throughout the Southeast.
Park officials said the spider, originally native to Eastern Asia, was first identified in the United States around 2013 to 2014 and is believed to have arrived through international shipping containers. Since then, the species has steadily spread across multiple states, including areas within the Smokies.
The park recently issued a public request for assistance in documenting sightings of the spider as researchers work to better understand its growth and movement across the region.
Adult female Joro spiders are among the most recognizable. Park officials said the spiders feature bright yellow and black markings and are often large enough to attract immediate attention.
“They look like an escapee from spider jail,” park officials joked in a social media post encouraging the public to report sightings.
Rather than disturbing the spiders, officials are asking anyone who encounters one to take a photograph and record the exact location. Sightings can be submitted through the free iNaturalist mobile app or reported directly to researchers at the University of Tennessee.
According to the national park, public reports provide valuable data that help researchers track the spread of the invasive species.
“Your reports help University of Tennessee researchers map the spread of this invasive species and better understand its expansion across our region,” the park said.
Scientists say the Joro spider’s rapid expansion is aided by its ability to travel long distances during its early life stage. As spiderlings, the young spiders release strands of silk that catch wind currents, allowing them to become airborne and disperse over significant distances, a process known as “ballooning.”
Researchers report the Joro spider has already been documented across approximately 10 to 12 states, and experts believe its range could continue expanding into the northeastern United States.
The species is most active during the summer and fall months after hatching in the spring.
Park officials hope increased public participation will provide a clearer picture of where the spiders are establishing themselves throughout East Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains region.
Joro spider (WVLT)
