Joro spiders are the subject of much talk this month, as these giant yellow-patterned spiders are spreading along the East Coast of the US. This summer it is expected increasing numbers of these critters will be seen across southern and eastern states, making their way up to New York.
These spiders have an intimidating appearance, encouraging many to repel Joro spiders from their yard. 'Joro spiders are in the orb-weaver family and build giant webs,' explains Trevor Richard, entomologist and pest control expert at Fox Pest Control. 'The females grow to 3-4 inches (the size of the palm of your hand) and have yellow markings, while the males are much smaller and brown.' These spiders use their giant webs to catch wind and fly many miles at a time - hence being known as 'flying' spiders.
