Researchers Ask Smokies Visitors to Report Joro Spider Sightings

A large invasive spider spreading across the Southeast is turning Smoky Mountains residents and visitors into field observers for researchers trying to map its range.

The Joro spider is native to East Asia and is best known for the bright yellow-and-black coloring of adult females and the large golden webs they build. Including their legs, mature females can appear several inches across, which makes a first encounter difficult to miss.

Researchers working through Joro Watch are asking people to photograph suspected spiders and submit the location online or through the EDDMapS app. Clear images are important because expert reviewers examine reports before adding verified observations to public distribution maps.

Reports of unsuccessful searches are useful too. Joro Watch says knowing where people looked without finding the spider helps scientists understand habitat preferences and the direction and speed of its spread.

The spiders are conspicuous, but their size does not make them unusually dangerous to people. They are not considered aggressive, and bites are uncommon. As with other wildlife, observers should avoid handling them and should photograph from a comfortable distance.

The monitoring program is coordinated through partners that include the University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, UGA Extension and the Southern Integrated Pest Management Center. Its 2026 county map is built from reports submitted by researchers and the public.

Anyone who finds a suspected Joro around Sevier County, the national park or another Smokies community should record the location, take several focused photos and submit the observation through Joro Watch. A photograph and exact location are more useful to researchers than simply posting that a large spider was seen.