With the arrival of spring, you must be preparing for the balmy days of summer. However, with the arrival of warmer weather inevitably comes an invasive pest: the Joro spider. And although most spiders are harmless, this species may be a nuisance, particularly since Joro spiders can be tough to eradicate once they’ve established a comfortable nest in your home.
Keeping the same in mind, Read this guide to discover all you need to know about How to Get Rid of Joro Spiders!
Table of Contents
Joro Spiders Basic information
Identification
Joro spiders are common in many parts of the world, including Europe, North America, and Australia.
These arachnids can be identified by their large size (with their legs alone extending up to 4 inches) as well as their webs, which are characteristically zigzag in the pattern. They come in a variety of shades.
The Female Joro spiders possess deep blue and yellow stripes on their legs, and their abdomens include asymmetrical patterns of red, yellow, and black. Male members, on the other hand, are plainer as they only have a brown body.
What’s more, the Joro spider is also known as the White-tailed Spider because of the white spot on its tail.
Habits
Joro spiders are likely found on the edges of woods or homes. They build their webs close to the ground, making them difficult to see.
These spiders are venomous and can cause a great deal of pain if they bite someone. There are a number of methods to eliminate these spiders, which you will learn in the following sections.
How does the Joro spider continue to spread?
Last fall, while strolling across the yard, I stumbled upon a Joro spider web in one corner of a porch; this made me ponder the spreading of these huge spiders. And guess what, upon research, I discovered that Joro is a proficient hitchhiker!
These spiders have been spreading to new areas due to two main methods:
Firstly, they can spin a long strand of silk that can be carried by air currents (a trait recognized as ballooning) and move great distances. In fact, the Joro spider is notorious for its ability to travel long distances by spinning these strands of silk that air currents can carry.
This has allowed them to spread to many different parts of the world.
Secondly, the Joro spiders may also spread owing to their capacity to rapidly construct webs and attach them to vehicles, containers, and other modes of transportation.
Moreover, if the female is mated and carrying eggs, she may deposit an egg mass on any item, including a truck, box, etc.
Thereby, due to its capacity to hitchhike, the spider is efficiently spreading and increasing its territory via these two methods.
Are Joro Spiders dangerous?
Joro spiders pose no considerable threat to humans, besides the fact that their long, splayed limbs and thick bodies can be frightening, especially to those suffering from arachnophobia!
In fact, Joro spiders are mostly non-belligerent, known to attack only when alarmed or cornered. Even then, the bites are not particularly harmful as the fangs of these spiders are too small to pierce human flesh.
Therefore, though these creepy-crawlies are venomous, they’re not considered dangerous to humans or pets unless you’re particularly allergic to spider bites. In that scenario, Joro spider bites, like those of most other spiders, may constitute a concern.
In addition to typical allergic symptoms such as swelling, redness, and itching, the bite may feel like a bee sting to a susceptible person.
Seek immediate medical assistance if you are suffering an allergic response after being bitten by a Joro spider.
How to identify Joro spider infestation?
Identifying if you have an infestation of Joro spiders is the first step in eliminating them. There are many indicators of a Joro spider infestation:
- Spotting the spiders: Joro spiders are easily identifiable; if you see them, there is likely an infestation. They are large, black spiders with a yellow mark on their back. They typically build webs in the dark, secluded areas, so look for them in places like closets, garages, and sheds.
- Look out for webs: If you’re seeing spider webs around your house that are highly organized and look like a wheel, well, it’s telltale signs of a Joro spider infestation:
- Egg sacs: If you observe egg sacs around your home, it is a clear sign of a Joro spider infestation. The egg sacs will be spindle-shaped and cream or light yellow in color. They are often found in protected areas such as under eaves, near doorways, and garages.
Now that you know how to detect a Joro spider infestation, let’s get down to the following step: bow to get rid of Joro Spiders!
How to Get Rid of Joro Spiders: 13 Effective Methods
As you know, the Joro spiders pose no serious threat to human beings. However, they are pests that may be quite unpleasant since they reproduce rapidly and spin webs that can be up to 10 feet thick!
Therefore they should be removed as soon as possible. The following are 13 effective techniques for getting rid of them:
Removal of Joro Spiders by Physical Means
The most effective and sustainable way to exterminate Joro spiders from your home is by physical means. This includes using a vacuum cleaner, broom, or your hand.
Precaution is an absolute must in order to prevent hurting your home or furniture when eliminating spiders.
Thereby it is essential not to overdo it when trying to remove Joro spiders from an area. If you try to remove all of the spiders at once, you may damage more than necessary.
Instead, use several methods gradually throughout the day. Once all of the spiders have been removed, store them in a dark and dry place until they can be collected again in future years.
Combat Joro Spiders With Essential Oils
Another common way is to use essential oils. Essential oils are a natural and safe way to deter bugs, including Joro spiders.
Moreover, when making your spider deterrent spray, be sure to use organic ingredients. In fact, there are several recipes for essential oil-based DIY insect repellent sprays.
Popular constituents include peppermint, citrus, and tea tree. However, if you have children and/or animals in your home, you must ensure that the essential oils you use are suitable for them. For instance, cats are very susceptible to essential oils.
Set Traps
This straightforward approach for getting rid of Joro spiders includes creating traps and then removing the spiders from your house.
There are various traps available, so be sure to choose the one that best suits your needs. Again, this strategy will only work if the traps are constantly updated.
Using Sprays or insecticides
Amongst the various options for eliminating the Joro spiders, one option is to use spider sprays or insecticides. However, this should be done with caution.
You can get a number of commercial sprays and insecticides on the market. But be sure to follow the directions on the product you’re using, and be careful not to inhale any fumes.
Furthermore, if you have a lot of spiders or eggs, it might be best to get help from a professional exterminator.
Vinegar
Vinegar is an organic and effective way to get rid of Joro spiders. It can be sprayed in corners, cracks, and crevices to deter them from entering the area. However, be cautious not to use too much, as it can be harsh on the appearance of surfaces.
Garlic
There are many ways to eliminate spiders in your home or office, but one of the most effective methods is to use a fresh garlic spray.
In fact, it is known to be a potent natural pesticide and can be used to both scare them away as well as exterminate spiders from an area.
When it comes to application, you can use crushed garlic cloves with a diluted solution of water (in ratios 8:2) as a spray for getting rid of spider infestations in any room that may become contaminated with their webbing or stings.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a powder made of the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of algae. It’s effective in getting rid of Joro spiders because it punctures their exoskeletons, causing them to die.
You can apply it either by tossing handfuls of the powder onto your lawn, garden or anywhere you notice the unwanted Joro spiders.
Furthermore, DE can also be used by loading the product into a dust spreader, which is available at hardware or home improvement stores.
Get a eucalyptus plant.
Joro spiders are repelled by the strong smell of eucalyptus. Therefore, one simple step to keep them away is to get a eucalyptus plant.
If you have a garden, try planting a eucalyptus tree and keeping it well-maintained.
However, in case you don’t have space for a eucalyptus tree, try growing an indoor eucalyptus plant. If you want to cover all of your bases, you may also cut eucalyptus branches and dry them in cabinets or on any household hook.
Either way, the spiders will stay away.
Make a Tobacco Spray
Another effective way on the list is to make a tobacco spray. In fact, according to some research, tobacco leaves have shown to be an effective repellent against spiders.
Thereby to make your own spay, you will need a package of pipe or chewing tobacco, a gallon of boiling water, a strainer, and a clean container.
Soak the tobacco in the boiling water and wait until it cools down. Strain the solution into a clean bottle. Spray one cup of tobacco juice and one-half cup of lemon dish soap mixed in a hose-end sprayer.
As for the application, spray the affected areas on a consistent basis until you see results.
Use Cedar
Cedar is a popular choice for eliminating Joro spiders because of its strong woody aroma. The smell is unpleasant to spiders and will deter them from entering the area. You can use cedar in several ways, including as a cleaner for your home or as an ingredient in drawers or corners.
Scatter Chestnuts
Numerous techniques claim to work in the fight against Joro spiders; nevertheless, the majority of them only function when they are really put into practice.
One such method that seems to have some basis is scattering horse chestnuts near points of entry and infestation.
However, this may be an urban legend, so take it with a grain of salt – or even better, try it and see what happens.
Repel With Catnip
Interestingly, catnip oil is also effective at repelling Joro spiders. It can be used as a repellent for spiders and is a natural way to keep them away.
Therefore, if you’re having trouble getting rid of spiders, try using catnip oil, as it will force them to flee.
Employ Professional Help
Joro spiders can be a difficult pest to get rid of. If you have employed all the techniques mentioned in this article and still cannot get rid of them, you might want to call a professional pest control technician.
They will have access to the latest tools and techniques for getting rid of Joro spiders and can help you take care of the problem quickly and effectively.
Bonus Point: Prevention is better than cure!
As you may already know, the stress and effort of administering a remedy are always preferable to taking preventative measures. Thereby, to prevent the Joro spider from infiltrating in the first place, have a look at these effective prevention and control methods:
Seal Entry Holes
Sealing entry points is an effective way to keep out Joro spiders. Gaps around windows, doors, and plumbing should be filled with caulk to prevent the spiders from entering your home.
Keep Landscape Tidy
One of the best ways to prevent the invasion of Joro spiders is to keep your landscape tidy. This means trimming trees and shrubs close to the roof or siding and cleaning up any piles of debris or clutter.
You can employ the use of physical barriers, such as netting or fencing, to keep the spiders out.
Clean up Inside
Spiders may infest even the cleanest homes, but they prefer clutter because it provides excellent hiding places.
A clean home might provide fewer hiding spots for spiders. Additionally, knocking down any spider webs and vacuuming out any spiders and their eggs (or taking them to the great outdoors) might be beneficial.
Remove Prey
Owing to the fact that all spiders, including Joro, need insects for sustenance, removing their prey (flies, fruit flies, etc.) from home may deter them from settling there.
Conclusion
Joro spiders are a prevalent home nuisance in many regions of the globe. It might be challenging to eliminate them, but there are effective methods you can adopt to minimize their invasion as well as eliminate them permanently. I sincerely hope this article will make the guidance simpler for you.
