Joro spiders don’t fly like birds or insects. They “balloon” by releasing silk threads into the air and catching the wind—letting them drift for miles like tiny parachutes.
Ballooning lets spiderlings colonize wide areas quickly. This trait explains how they spread across Georgia and nearby states in just a few years.
Joro spiders usually balloon in spring or early summer when conditions are just right—warm temperatures, mild wind, and low humidity.
Some spiders can travel dozens or even hundreds of miles this way. In the right conditions, ballooning can move Joros across counties or states.
While it's mostly the young that balloon, research shows even some lightweight adult females might glide short distances if the wind is strong enough.
Once they find a suitable landing spot, Joro spiders waste no time. Within hours, they may begin weaving their large, signature webs in trees, power lines, or shrubs.
This unique travel method gives Joros an edge over slower-moving native spiders, allowing them to establish colonies quickly across new territories.