Explosive Growth of the Jorō Spider (<i>Trichonephila clavata</i> (L. Koch): Araneae: Araneidae) and Concurrent Decline of Native Orbweaving Spiders in Atlanta, Georgia Forests at the Forefront of the Jorō Spider’s Invasive Spread

The Jorō spider (<i>Trichonephila clavata</i> (L. Koch): Araneae: Araneidae), an invasive species from Asia, and native orbweaving spiders were censused at 25 forest sites in the Atlanta, Georgia, region at the forefront of the Jorō spider’s spread from 2022 through 2024. The Jorō spider...

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Main Author: Robert W. Pemberton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/5/443
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author Robert W. Pemberton
author_facet Robert W. Pemberton
author_sort Robert W. Pemberton
collection DOAJ
description The Jorō spider (<i>Trichonephila clavata</i> (L. Koch): Araneae: Araneidae), an invasive species from Asia, and native orbweaving spiders were censused at 25 forest sites in the Atlanta, Georgia, region at the forefront of the Jorō spider’s spread from 2022 through 2024. The Jorō spider was found in all 25 sites in all three years, doubling in abundance each year. In 2022, the number of Jorō spiders found was 444 or 16.34 per hour of census. This doubled in 2023 to 859 or 30.54 per hour. The Jorō numbers doubled again in 2024 to 1713 or 59.14 per hour. This contrasts markedly with the seven species of native orbweavers found during the censuses, which declined by ca. 40% each year. In 2022, 52 or 1.72 individuals per hour of six native orbweaver species were found at 18 sites. In 2023, the number dropped to 32 or 1.06 individuals per hour of six species found at 11 sites. In 2024, the number further declined to 18 or 0.55 individuals of six species found at eight sites. The Jorō spider’s spread and rapid increase in abundance may disrupt trophic networks and negatively influence the abundance of both native orbweavers and flying insect species.
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spelling doaj-art-85e0633d91ae4bd79972a2506e84cf2b2025-08-20T02:33:50ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-04-0116544310.3390/insects16050443Explosive Growth of the Jorō Spider (<i>Trichonephila clavata</i> (L. Koch): Araneae: Araneidae) and Concurrent Decline of Native Orbweaving Spiders in Atlanta, Georgia Forests at the Forefront of the Jorō Spider’s Invasive SpreadRobert W. Pemberton0Independent Researcher, 2275 1st Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30317, USAThe Jorō spider (<i>Trichonephila clavata</i> (L. Koch): Araneae: Araneidae), an invasive species from Asia, and native orbweaving spiders were censused at 25 forest sites in the Atlanta, Georgia, region at the forefront of the Jorō spider’s spread from 2022 through 2024. The Jorō spider was found in all 25 sites in all three years, doubling in abundance each year. In 2022, the number of Jorō spiders found was 444 or 16.34 per hour of census. This doubled in 2023 to 859 or 30.54 per hour. The Jorō numbers doubled again in 2024 to 1713 or 59.14 per hour. This contrasts markedly with the seven species of native orbweavers found during the censuses, which declined by ca. 40% each year. In 2022, 52 or 1.72 individuals per hour of six native orbweaver species were found at 18 sites. In 2023, the number dropped to 32 or 1.06 individuals per hour of six species found at 11 sites. In 2024, the number further declined to 18 or 0.55 individuals of six species found at eight sites. The Jorō spider’s spread and rapid increase in abundance may disrupt trophic networks and negatively influence the abundance of both native orbweavers and flying insect species.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/5/443Araneidaecensusnative speciespopulation changepredation
spellingShingle Robert W. Pemberton
Explosive Growth of the Jorō Spider (<i>Trichonephila clavata</i> (L. Koch): Araneae: Araneidae) and Concurrent Decline of Native Orbweaving Spiders in Atlanta, Georgia Forests at the Forefront of the Jorō Spider’s Invasive Spread
Insects
Araneidae
census
native species
population change
predation
title Explosive Growth of the Jorō Spider (<i>Trichonephila clavata</i> (L. Koch): Araneae: Araneidae) and Concurrent Decline of Native Orbweaving Spiders in Atlanta, Georgia Forests at the Forefront of the Jorō Spider’s Invasive Spread
title_full Explosive Growth of the Jorō Spider (<i>Trichonephila clavata</i> (L. Koch): Araneae: Araneidae) and Concurrent Decline of Native Orbweaving Spiders in Atlanta, Georgia Forests at the Forefront of the Jorō Spider’s Invasive Spread
title_fullStr Explosive Growth of the Jorō Spider (<i>Trichonephila clavata</i> (L. Koch): Araneae: Araneidae) and Concurrent Decline of Native Orbweaving Spiders in Atlanta, Georgia Forests at the Forefront of the Jorō Spider’s Invasive Spread
title_full_unstemmed Explosive Growth of the Jorō Spider (<i>Trichonephila clavata</i> (L. Koch): Araneae: Araneidae) and Concurrent Decline of Native Orbweaving Spiders in Atlanta, Georgia Forests at the Forefront of the Jorō Spider’s Invasive Spread
title_short Explosive Growth of the Jorō Spider (<i>Trichonephila clavata</i> (L. Koch): Araneae: Araneidae) and Concurrent Decline of Native Orbweaving Spiders in Atlanta, Georgia Forests at the Forefront of the Jorō Spider’s Invasive Spread
title_sort explosive growth of the joro spider i trichonephila clavata i l koch araneae araneidae and concurrent decline of native orbweaving spiders in atlanta georgia forests at the forefront of the joro spider s invasive spread
topic Araneidae
census
native species
population change
predation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/5/443
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