Joro spider season is back again. These black and yellow critters have been spinning their enormous golden webs stateside for a decade now. Many have been worried about how they would impact native species.
But a new study from the University of Georgia suggests they may not be competing with Georgia’s native spiders at least, not as much as scientists once feared.
Researchers analyzed the stomach contents of more than 200 Joro spiders and compared them with more than 140 native orb weavers. They found the spiders’ diets overlapped, but not by much.
Joros ate 26 species of insects that the native spiders didn’t, including leafhoppers and aphids. The researchers also found native spiders ate the same kinds of insects whether Joros were nearby or not.
And despite concerns about their giant webs, Joros don’t appear to be eating many butterflies. The study says they mostly eat small flies and other insects people might consider pests.
The researchers say there’s still a lot we don’t know about how Joros could affect native species. But one thing seems increasingly clear: They’re probably here to stay.
Spraying insecticide to get rid of them could do more harm than good by killing beneficial insects, too. So, for now, if you can live with the webs, just leave them alone.
