This invasive, palm-sized spider can be found in South Carolina, experts say
Keep your eye out for this creepy, crawly critter.
The palm-sized joro spider, scientifically known as trichonphila clavata, has been found in South Carolina.
The joro spider gets its name from a Japanese legend, a spider demon, according to Clemson University.
The yellow, red and gray spider is native to Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea and China. More recently, it has been found in the Southeast, including Georgia and the Palmetto State.
Experts’ best guess at how the spider made its way to the United States is that it may have come in a shipping container. They were first identified in 2014 by the Georgia Museum of Natural History.
Experts at Clemson are unsure if the spider will have any negative impacts on the local ecology, they wrote in an online post.
How will you know if you run into one of these eight-legged behemoths? Joro spiders weave distinctive golden webs.
Rest assured, though, experts said there’s no reason to fear joro spiders.
“These large spiders are docile, are not generally considered dangerous, and provide a beneficial service by capturing and consuming other insects, some of which are pests of people, pets, and crops,” Clemson experts wrote.
This story was originally published November 5, 2021 at 2:33 PM with the headline "This invasive, palm-sized spider can be found in South Carolina, experts say."
