How to Get Rid of Joro Spiders: Quickly Remove from Your Home

You don’t need to have arachnophobia to want spiders out of your house. While spiders don’t usually spread diseases (phew!) some of them can be toxic.

Joro spiders, in particular, are large and scary. The females have blue-gray bodies with red marks on their legs and abdomen. They are slightly larger than the males who are brown-colored. All of them have long black legs with yellow marks on them, which separates them from other spiders.

Joro spiders are harmless to humans but might bite when provoked. The good news is, they’re not aggressive by nature. But it’s an invasive species and their bite that feels like a bee sting. Are Joro spiders dangerous? The answer is not really, so do not get all bent out of shape until you know the spider species.

Some folks are allergic to them as well. So, if you see one of these Joro spiders around, you will want to get rid of them. We have several ways for you to DIY or use a professional exterminator. Next up after understanding the Joro spider is how to get rid of Joro spiders.

Understanding Joro Spiders

Before putting together a game plan to rid your house of Joro spiders, you should know what it looks like so that you can identify it. You should also understand how a Joro spider or any spider gets into your home so that you know how to stop it.

Here is some detailed information on the Joro spiders.

1. Physical Characteristics

This is a large insect with a round abdomen. The males are about an inch in length while the females are about two inches long. All of them have two-inch long legs. Like many other spiders, this species also traps its prey in complicated orb webs.

2. Habitat of Joro Spider

Joro spiders typically weave their webs in the woods along the trails. But they can get quite comfortable on your porch or backyard as well. When they have to relocate, they hang on to the air current and spin their webs in that direction. It’s called ballooning and helps them travel 50 to 100 miles at a time.

3. Behavior of Joro

Joro spiders become sexually mature in 2-3 months and live for a total of 12 months. These Joro spiders live alone except when they have to mate. The females breed from late fall to early winter and lay about 400-1,500 eggs at a time.

It’s hard to spot them before they reach sexual maturity and afterward, one Joro spider can turn into an infestation very quickly.

Adult Joro spiders eat a lot of smaller insects like stink bugs, biting flies, and mosquitoes by trapping them in their dense webs and killing them with venom. This will actually help get rid of other pests in your home or outside but there are more cons than pros here.

So, what do you do? Here is the first step.

Prevention Joro Spiders

Joro spiders are originally from parts of Asia and came to the US in containers on trade routes. We’ll start with folk wisdom which says prevention is better than cure. There are plenty of basic ways to keep your house free of Joro spiders.

Clean your house as often as possible. When you’re doing that, check for gaps and cracks in remote areas and seal them. Repairing damaged screens and installing door sweeps are good ideas too. Then, make a plan to ensure that moisture doesn’t build up in these areas.

Finally, actively look for their orb webs and physically remove them. Many experts suggest that this is the best way to keep Joro spiders in check. Use your hands, a broom, or a vacuum cleaner.

To have something working to kill the Joro spiders over time you will need more powerful pest control products or you can try some natural products suggested below.

Natural Remedies

• You can mix white vinegar with water and use it on Joro spiders. It has acetic acid that these insects react to adversely. Peppermint is another scent that spiders don’t like. The Joro species are no exception.

• The same is true for essential oils like eucalyptus, rose, lavender, tea tree, and cinnamon. Mix about 20 drops with water and spray them in suspected areas.

• A few crushed garlic cloves mixed with water will also keep these arachnids off your property.
• No guarantee any of these natural remedies will work but you can try them.

Chemicals To Get Rid of Joro Spiders

But if that doesn’t work, here are some chemical remedies you can DIY if you do not want to spend money on an exterminator.

1. Insecticides

The spider control kit above comes with one 17-ounce aerosol can, a pack of 4 Catchmaster 100i insect monitors, and an 8 ml Temprid FX single-dose insecticide. Use it after inspecting the suspected area thoroughly.

Then there is the Tempo SC Ultra which contains beta-cyfluthrin, an odorless toxic compound to get rid of pests. You can use it indoors and outdoors without the fear of residue.

2. Dust

The Delta Dust Insecticide is a waterproof insecticide dust that contains deltamethrin. It works effectively on damp cracks and crevices that are hotbeds for insect activity.

You can apply it using a hand duster to reach remote areas. And one dose will secure the place for 8 months.

3. Sprays

If you want spider sprays, the PT Phantom II Pressurized Insecticide will do the job effectively. Each can of insecticide has 17.5 ounces of aerosol that kill other pests including cockroaches, ants, and bed bugs as well. And it won’t leave any residue.

The chemical spreads among the pests through touch which makes it powerful. So, it’ll take care of the spiders that you haven’t even seen yet. It’s good for cracks and gaps.

Precautions When Using Chemicals

You should always wear protective masks, goggles, and gloves when handling chemicals. If you have leftovers, store them away from sunlight in a safe and cool place. Make sure kids and pets can’t access them.

If there’s nothing left, get rid of the containers properly. Read the label of the products to make sure you’re using them as instructed. Don’t overuse them “just to be sure”. That could cause problems. And never transfer the chemicals into other containers. That’s not safe.

Professional Pest Control

If you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, where to look, or how to handle the pests, it’s best to call a professional. Here’s why.

Benefits of Using Professionals

• You don’t have to spend time on it.

• Professionals know exactly where to look and how to treat them.

• They will identify problem areas and tell you how to take precautions for the future.

• They will know which products to use and will use the right amount based on the magnitude of the problem.

How to Choose the Right Company

• Ask your responsible friends and family members for a recommendation.

• Search the company’s history but don’t rely entirely on the Internet.

• Talk to a representative from the company and ask them for a customer reference.

• Contact the state pesticide regulatory office or check the Better Business Bureau for ratings, complaints, unresolved problems, and more about the company.
• Take our recommendation below and use a local exterminator to get rid of the Joro spider infestation.

How Regular Pest Control Helps

• Pests carry diseases that are bad for your health and Joro spiders can bite.

• Infestations caused by spiders, termites, and bugs can go unnoticed for a long time if you’re waiting for a problem before you do maintenance.

• Perishables kept in food storage areas are particularly at risk since they are cozy places for insects. Get help immediately if you have a spider issue in the home before it turns into an infestation. You do not want to give the Joro spider a new food source, the easiest way to prevent spiders is by keeping the home clean.

Conclusion

Joro spiders tend to stay away from humans and our pets unless they feel threatened. They’re not toxic but that’s no reason to ignore them. But you can take care of them with home remedies like vinegar or essential oils that Joro spiders can’t stand.

There are many chemicals in the form of aerosols or dust that will solve your problem as well. And if you can’t, there are plenty of professionals who will tackle it with finesse for you.

But more than anything, you want to make sure that you take care of the spider problem before it gets worse in the home.