Are joro spiders poisonous? Huge, colorful species found in the Smokies, what to know in Tennessee

They're huge and colorful, with bands of yellow and blue. These massive spiders have been making headlines over the past months as they expand their presence in the United States. Now, they've been spotted in East Tennessee.

Joro spiders, also known as Trichonephila clavata, were spotted in the Smokies on Oct. 17, according to Smokies Life.

The spiders are native to Asia but were initially found in Georgia around 2013 and 2014. Since then, they have moved to Pennsylvania, Maryland, Alabama, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee, according to The University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health .

Joro spider (Trichonephila clavata) Annual Progress Map

Researchers are still learning about the spider species. Relatively little is known about their ecological or human-related impacts.

Here's what is known about the Joro spider and what to do if you encounter one.

How big are Joro spiders?

Female Joro spiders are quite large, about the size of your palm. Adult females will span around 6-8 inches. Male Joro spiders on the other hand are only about 1/4 inches long with a leg span of 3/4 inches.

Should Joro spiders be killed?

Don't panic if you see one of these spiders.

If you do find a Joro spider, experts recommend not spraying it, but taking a picture an reporting it, according to Joro Watch. This data helps scientists understand where the species is spreading to, the habitats they are found in and more.

How aggressive are Joro spiders?

Despite the intimidating size of the Joro spider, it is actually a shy creature, according to Scientific American reporting.

Researchers in Georgia have studied the species' behavioral responses to threats in mildy stressful situations by looking at its "freeze response." When scientists blew a puff of air on the Joro spider, it stayed frozen for a longer period of time.

This indicates that the Joro Spider is less bold.

Do Joro spiders fly?

Joro spiders do not have wings and cannot fly. Instead, they use a tactic called ballooning. This means that the spider will put out a long thread of silk and floats elsewhere in the wind.

What happens if you get bitten by a Joro spider? are they poisonous?

Joro spiders rarely bite, according to iNaturalist. However, if this spider does bite you, it should not cause too much harm because it has weak venom. The temporary pain and redness have been compared to a bee sting.