I am no bug-ologist, but I continue to see very large spiders in my garden. I enjoy looking carefully at all the wildlife in the yard, including insects, so I am certain this is something new. I hear rumors that we have been invaded by Joro spiders from south Asia or some exotic place. They are certainly beautiful creatures and frightening because of their surprising size. I have not experienced any aggression on their part. By now there will be millions of these things around for the next gardening season. Let us hope they catch mosquitos in their huge, gold-tinged webs. The one I photographed (above) seemed uninterested in me, even when I shoved my camera in its face.
Oh No! Not another invader from Asia! What is our world coming to, I wonder? I will be anxious to learn how these spiders affect your yard and garden.
Marnette,
In my experience, the Joros seem harmless tohumans but I have no idea of their impact on native populations of insects. I was living in Thomasville when armadillos forst made their appearance in south Georgia. All kinds of bad things were attributed to these little creatures, none of which seems to have been true. They do didg holes in your lawn in their quest for the worms they eat. Hardly upsetting to anyone but golf green keepers.
Fire ants appeared about the same time and that is a “whole ‘nother story.” They destroy other ant population and present a real danger to humans because of their bites or stings that can require medical attention -for children especially.
Joe