The bright yellow and blue Joro spiders are now a part of everyday life in Georgia. From Atlanta porches to North Georgia trails, their wide golden webs are hard to miss this fall.

What’s Happening: Researchers say Joro numbers have exploded over the last three years. A University of Georgia study found that in metro Atlanta parks, their population doubled each year between 2022 and 2024. This year, their webs will stretch cross trees, doorways, and even power lines.

Joros are large, showy orb-weaver spiders. Females can reach the size of a human palm, and their webs often span ten feet. But experts stress they pose little danger. Their venom is mild, bites are rare, and any reaction is usually no worse than a bee sting.

Between the Lines: Scientists are still watching how this invasi

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