Great Smoky Mountains National Park Seeks Public Assistance to Track Invasive Joro Spider Spread
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is requesting public help to monitor the spread of the invasive Joro spider, an orb-weaving species that can grow to the size of a human hand. First observed in the United States between 2013 and 2014, these spiders are believed to have arrived from Eastern Asia via shipping containers. They are most active during the summer and fall months, hatching in the spring. Adult female Joro spiders are distinctive with their bright yellow and black bands. Park officials are urging individuals who encounter these spiders not to disturb them, but instead to photograph them, record their exact location, and report the sightings. This data can be submitted through the free iNaturalist app or directly to researchers at the University of Tennessee via email. The park emphasizes that these public reports are crucial for researchers to map the species' expansion and better understand its presence in the region. 
