Joro spider

or jor·o spi·der

[ jawr-oh spahy-der ]

noun

1. a large, multicolored, invasive but relatively harmless spider, Trichonephilia clavata (formerly classified with the genus Nephilia ), found throughout much of Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan, and recently introduced to the eastern United States: known as the “parachuting spider” for its habit of dropping, with long legs extended, from great heights.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Joro spider¹

First recorded in 2010–15; from Japanese jorō(gumo) “woman (spider),” in Japanese folklore a goblin that can change from a spider into a beautiful woman

Example Sentences

In their native Japan, the East Asian Joro spider colonizes most of the country.

From Science Daily

The joro spider has long, striped, black-and-yellow legs and a bedazzled rump.

From Washington Post

The fact that a Joro spider and its web was found on the exterior of a freight container in a container yard at Tacoma, Wash., seems to support this hypothesis.

From Washington Post

The good news is that the Joro spider is beautiful, with bright yellow and black stripes and about the size of a palm of the hand.

From Washington Post

“Humans are at the root of their invasion. Don’t blame the Joro spider.”

From Washington Times