What to do if you see a giant, invasive spider popping up in multiple states
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park told visitors Tuesday that invasive Joro spiders "may be hanging in a web near you."
Updated on: August 20, 2026 / 11:46 AM EDT / CBS News
The large, scary-looking Joro spider that can make massive webs is popping up again in multiple states, but researchers say the invasive species is essentially harmless to humans.
The spider species native to East Asia was first spotted in the U.S. in Georgia in 2014. Since then, sightings have been reported in more than a dozen states, primarily in the Southeast.
The adult female Joro spiders are yellow with bluish-green stripes and black and yellow legs. Their bodies can be up to 1 inch long and they have a leg span up to 4 inches. Males are smaller and mostly brown in color.
While they have been referred to as flying spiders, you won't see one of the large adults soaring through the air. Researchers say only the young spiders are capable of something called ballooning, where they release silk that catches in the wind, carrying them long distances — a technique that's not unique to this species.
So far this year, Joro spiders have been spotted in Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Alabama, according to public trackers .