Joro Spider vs Golden Orb Weaver: Battle of the Giants in the Web World

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The Joro spider and the golden orb-weaver are two fascinating species of spiders that may appear similar at first glance but have unique features and characteristics. Both species belong to the group of large spiders known as golden orb-web weavers, constructing stunningly intricate, multi-layered webs with gold-colored silk. The Joro spider, native to East Asia, has recently gained attention for its spread across the Southeastern United States, while the golden orb-weaver has a native range in the tropical and subtropical regions of North and Central America source.

Both Joro spiders and golden orb-weavers display striking coloration, with the Joro spider showcasing bold yellow stripes against a black background source and the golden orb-weaver having an overall golden hue. While these spiders may appear intimidating, they are relatively shy creatures that are not dangerous to humans. As we dive deeper into the world of these fascinating arachnids, we’ll uncover their unique features, behaviors, and characteristics.

Joro Spider vs Golden Orb Weaver

Physical Characteristics

Joro Spider:

  • Bright yellow or brown, depending on gender1
  • Red mark on the back1

Golden Orb Weaver:

  • Dull orange back with yellow spots1
  • Hair on their legs1

Habitat and Distribution

  • Joro Spider: Native to East Asia2, recently found in South Carolina2
  • Golden Orb Weaver: Found all over the southeastern US3, especially in Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia3

Behavior

  • Both species are docile, not generally considered dangerous2, and provide a beneficial service by capturing other insects2
  • Their silk is strong and used to build very large orb webs with additional barrier webs3
Feature Joro Spider Golden Orb Weaver
Size (leg span) Up to 4 inches1 Up to 6 inches1
Web Appearance Large orb web with barriers3 Large orb web with barriers3
Color & Markings Bright yellow or brown1 Dull orange with yellow spots1
Distribution East Asia2; South Carolina2 Southeastern US3

Biology and Reproduction

Mating Rituals

In both Joro spiders (Trichonephila clavata) and golden silk orb-weavers (Trichonephila clavipes), the mating process involves the smaller male approaching the significantly larger female. Males use delicate courtship rituals, such as vibrating their bodies, to signal their intentions and avoid being mistaken as prey.

Example:

  • Male Joro spider vibrates its body to avoid being eaten by the female

Spiderlings

After mating, both Joro spiders and golden silk orb-weavers produce egg sacs, which vary in shape and size. These egg sacs protect the developing spiderlings until they hatch.

Example:

  • Adult female Joro spiders and golden silk orb-weavers produce egg sacs for protection

Comparison Table

Feature Joro Spider (Trichonephila clavata) Golden Silk Orb-Weaver (Trichonephila clavipes)
Web Size Large, multi-layered webs Large, golden webs
Size Ratio (female : male) Female much larger than male Female much larger than male
Physical Appearance – Female Bright yellow or brown Dull orange with yellow spots
Hair Smooth Hairy
Mating Ritual Male vibrates body Male vibrates body
Egg Sac Characteristics Size and shape vary Size and shape vary

Note: Both Joro spiders and golden silk orb-weavers belong to the Araneidae family.

By understanding the unique features and mating rituals of the Joro spider and golden silk orb-weaver, we can better appreciate their fascinating biology and reproduction processes.

Venom and Bites

Comparing Venom Potency

  • Joro Spider: Joro spiders have weak venom and are not considered medically important (source).
  • Golden Orb Weaver: Similar to Joro spiders, Golden Orb Weavers have weak venom, and their bites are not medically significant (source).
Spider Venom Potency
Joro Spider Weak, not medically important
Golden Orb Weaver Weak, not medically significant

Effects of Bites

  • Joro Spider: Bites from Joro spiders are rare and typically only occur if they feel threatened. Even when the bites occur, the venom is weak, and the effects are mild, with little to no allergic reactions (source).
  • Golden Orb Weaver: Similar to the Joro spiders, Golden Orb Weavers rarely bite, even when handled. If bites do occur, the effects of the venom are mild and not a cause for concern (source).
Spider Effects of Bites
Joro Spider Rare, mild, with little to no allergic reactions
Golden Orb Weaver Rare, mild, with no significant reactions

Examples of mild effects in both cases can include:

  • Swelling at the bite site
  • Redness or itching
  • Pain or discomfort

Global Distribution and Invasive Species

Asian Habitat

  • Joro spiders: originally found in East Asia (e.g. China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea)
  • Golden orb weavers: native to tropical regions worldwide, with some species in Central and South America, Africa, and Australia

The Joro spider (Trichonephila clavata) has its native habitat in East Asia, covering regions like China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. On the other hand, the Golden orb-weaver (Nephila spp.) has a broader native range and can be found in tropical climates around the world, including Central and South America, Africa, and Australia.

North American Expansion

  • Joro spider: expansion to Georgia
  • Golden orb weaver: native range includes parts of the southeastern United States

The Joro spider is considered an invasive species in the United States following its recent expansion into Georgia. Meanwhile, the Golden orb weaver (primarily the species Trichonephila clavipes, or the banana spider) has a native range that includes parts of the southeastern US, such as North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama.

Species Native Range Invasive Status
Joro spider East Asia (China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea) Invasive in United States
Golden orb weaver Tropical regions worldwide Native to southeastern US
  • Both spiders can tolerate colder temperatures
  • Invasive species: potential threat to agriculture and the environment

Both the Joro spider and Golden orb weaver are able to tolerate colder temperatures, which might contribute to their expansion in North America. As invasive species, they could potentially pose a threat to agriculture and the environment, as outlined in this study.

Web Characteristics and Construction

Golden Webs

Joro spiders and golden orb-weavers both create unique, intricate golden webs. These golden webs are known for trapping insects and their beautiful golden appearance. The main differences between the web constructions are:

  • Joro spiders have more colorful spiders
  • Golden orb-weavers’ webs are known for their larger size

Some interesting features of these golden webs include:

  • Entangling or binding prey
  • Reflecting an electrical field

Web Spinning Process

The web spinning process for both types of spiders involves creating a series of threads and patterns, designed to effectively capture prey. The key characteristics of their web spinning techniques include:

  • Time of day: spinning usually occurs during the night
  • Method: creating sticky and non-sticky threads

A comparison table highlighting the differences in web spinning includes:

Spider Type Web Complexity Spider Size Web Size
Joro Spider High Medium Medium
Golden Orb-Weaver Slightly lower Large Large

While both spiders spin intricate golden webs, the variations in size and complexity differ between the Joro and golden orb-weavers.

Identification Tips

Joro Spider Features

  • Body length: Female jorō spiders have a body length of approximately 1 inch, while males are much smaller, around 0.3 inches1.
  • Color: Females are bright yellow or brown, depending on their gender, while males are less colorful2.
  • Marking patterns: The jorō spider features yellow bands and wide stripes on its cephalothorax, with distinctive red splotches on the abdomen3.
  • Legs: Jorō spiders typically have long, skinny legs4.

Note: The Japanese name for the jorō spider is “jorōgumo” (female entwining spider).

Golden Orb Weaver Features

  • Body length: Female golden orb-weaver spiders have a body length ranging from 0.9 to 1.5 inches, while males are smaller, about 0.25 inches5.
  • Color: Golden orb-weaver spiders have a dull orange back with yellow spots6.
  • Marking patterns: The golden orb weaver features marking patterns with a lighter background and darker lines7.
  • Legs: Golden orb-weaver spiders also have long legs but with hair on them8.

Comparison Table:

Feature Joro Spider Golden Orb Weaver
Body length Females: ~1 inch, Males: ~0.3 inches Females: 0.9-1.5 inches, Males: ~0.25 inches
Color Females: bright yellow or brown, Males: less colorful Dull orange back with yellow spots
Markings Yellow bands, wide stripes, red splotches Lighter background, darker lines
Legs Long, skinny Long, hairy

Footnotes

  1. Joro vs. Golden Silk Spider – Mississippi State University Extension 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
  2. Big Yellow Spiders in South Carolina – Home & Garden Information Center 2 3 4 5 6 7
  3. Nothing to fear as ‘stunningly beautiful’ Joro spider treks north – Cornell University 2 3 4 5 6 7
  4. https://extension.psu.edu/joro-spiders
  5. https://extension.psu.edu/joro-spiders
  6. https://extension.msstate.edu/blog/joro-vs-golden-silk-spider
  7. https://extension.psu.edu/joro-spiders
  8. https://extension.msstate.edu/blog/joro-vs-golden-silk-spider

 

 

 

Golden Orbweaver laying eggs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Golden Orbweaver

 

Golden Orbweaver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Authors

  • Bugman

    Bugman aka Daniel Marlos has been identifying bugs since 1999. whatsthatbug.com is his passion project and it has helped millions of readers identify the bug that has been bugging them for over two decades. You can reach out to him through our Contact Page.

    View all posts
  • Piyushi is a nature lover, blogger and traveler at heart. She lives in beautiful Canada with her family. Piyushi is an animal lover and loves to write about all creatures.

    View all posts
Tags: Orb Weaver Spiders

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15 Comments. Leave new

  • I watched one of these spider earlier this year catch a small frog in its web and then proceed to gnaw or whatever spiders do to that kind of prey. I had to head to work and missed out on the outcome.

    Reply
    • Bernie,
      You are such a teaser. We want more information. Where was the sighting? What was the habitat like? Was it near a stream or pond? Was it a tree frog or something larger. Please respond.

      Reply
  • Heather Buckholtz
    April 9, 2013 9:44 pm

    So this post prompts me to ask a question…
    I think on Crowley’s Ridge in north east Arkansas we must have absolutely mutant Argiope Aurantia. Everything I’ve ever read on them indicates that the adult body size is only about 2 inches, and I see here that this little guy (legs and all) is only 2 inches.
    Here’s my quandry… the average body size around here is about 3 inches in the rural areas closest to the city (unfortunately we have very few within city limits in Jonesboro, AR). But out on the ridge near the rice fields, holy CRAP!!! Their bodies and legs get as big as your face!
    I’ve seen pictures friends have taken over the years of these ‘dinner plate’ spiders, but never seen them myself. I see the 3 inch ones all the time though, and they lay between 2-4 egg sacs each! I wouldn’t have believed they were from the same spider except I saw her in the process of spinning her 3rd the day after she spun #2.
    This fall I will make a concerted effort to document some of these monsters, as I can’t find any technical information that these spiders reach more than 2 inches in body size. Anyone else ever seen these reach gargantuan size?

    Reply
  • I was about to post a picture almost identical to this one. She is gorgeous. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a spider so big. They are great decorations for Halloween.

    Reply
  • LOVE the Orbweavers! We were lucky enough to have ours build on our living room window – we could watch her all day and night, catching prey, spinning .. it was amazing. The “zig-zag” pattern is so the birds don’t run into their webs. 😉

    Reply
    • The zig-zag pattern is known as the stabilimentum, and to the best of our knowledge, its true purpose is unknown, though warning birds is an interesting idea. An Australian Orbweaver known as the St Andrew’s Cross Spider is almost camouflaged in its stabilimentum.

      Reply
  • I love these girls so much, I have one tattooed on my sternum, stabilimentum included.

    Reply
  • I’ll have to get a family friendly pic in my swim suit. I’ll send one of my giant centipede tattoo, as well.

    Reply
  • Martha! We had one of these living in a corner of our deck a few years ago. We named her and tossed grasshoppers into her web to watch her spin and feast. Cool spider!

    Reply
  • I’ve only known them as hay spiders all my like (Oklahoma).

    Reply

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