To better understand the population of invasive Joro spiders in Northeast Georgia, The Times is calling anyone with a camera to participate in the 2020 Joro Count.  From Monday, Oct. 19, through Monday, Nov. 2, people are asked to record their sightings of Joro spiders by taking a photo and plotting the address on this Google map. Each spider location will appear as a red marker on the map. For those who see more than one Joro in the same area, please indicate the number of spiders in the description. 

People can also send their spider locations, date of sighting and photos to joro@gainesvilletimes.com. 

When the 2020 Joro Count ends, The Times will send the data to a Joro spider research team at the University of North Georgia. Since August 2019, the group — led by Mattias Johansson, assistant biology professor — has measured the arachnid’s potential ecological impact. Through charting the spiders’ locations, the team will gain a firmer grasp on the species’ population size and range. 

By attaching a photo with each submission, The Times and UNG student scientists can determine whether the spider spotted is indeed a Joro.  

Many Northeast Georgians have already seen the arachnid with its black and bright yellow body and multi-layered webs. 

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Not to be confused with writing and banana spiders — which are also yellow — people can identify the species by looking for key indicators like a splash or red on their abdomens and living arrangements.  

Johansson said the tell-tale sign lies with their webs. 

 “Joro’s webs are three-dimensional and often big,” Johansson told The Times in an Oct. 7, 2020 interview. “The webs are also yellow.” 

Joro spiders — which are native to China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan — started popping up in Northeast Georgia in 2014, according to Johansson, who specializes in invasive species research. 

Participants of the 2020 Joro Count won’t have to travel far to find the large spiders. They thrive on the edge of forests and in people’s backyards, often making themselves at home under porches. 

See original story by Kelsey Podo, Gainesville Times here.