Are there joro spiders in Alabama?
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
On this page
No.
Extension reported none on a page last modified 2026-04-09 and warned they may be present unobserved. Recheck before publishing.
Alabama Cooperative Extension System: “There are currently no reports of the Joro spider in Alabama.” Source
More official answers for Alabama
Are there scorpions in Alabama?
Yes. Three types can be found; two are native. The source does not name the third. Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Are there black widows in Alabama?
Yes. Two widow species inhabit Alabama. Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Are there brown recluses in Alabama?
Yes. Collected throughout the state, more common in the northern half. Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Where the joro spider lives in the US
- Native or listed
- Nonnative or not established
- No official record in our data
- 1–9
- 10–99
- 100–999
- 1,000+
Where official sources do confirm it
Official sources confirm the joro spider in 9 states: Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Georgia and Tennessee border Alabama.
- Georgia: “It is established in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and spreading to adjacent regions.” University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
- Tennessee: “In Tennessee, the first two counties where Jorō spiders were found were Hamilton and Bradley counties in October 2021.” University of Tennessee Extension (UT Institute of Agriculture)
What else it could be
Photo: Dario Taraborelli · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist Golden silk orb-weaver
Native relative. Rows of silvery-white spots on the abdomen instead of blue bands; legs yellow-orange with brown bands and black hair tufts at the joints.
Photo: Michael J. Papay · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Yellow garden spider (black and yellow garden spider, writing spider)
Yellow and black abdomen, smaller than a Joro; web often has a zigzag above and below the center.
Photo: Nick Chirico · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Banded garden spider
Many thin black, yellow and silvery-white bands on the abdomen; body 0.6-1.0 in.
When spiders are seen in Alabama
If you see one in Alabama
Keep your distance and do not try to catch or handle it. Nuisance wildlife: permitted Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators or the WFF district office; Wildlife Section 334-242-3469. Sea turtle strandings 1-866-732-8878. Dolphin and whale strandings 877-942-5343. Manatee sightings 866-493-5803. Invasive carp [email protected] or (256)-353-2634. Outdoor Alabama
Other questions about Alabama
Sources
- Joro Spiders: What You Need to Know. Alabama Cooperative Extension System. published 2022-03-11; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“There are currently no reports of the Joro spider in Alabama.”
- Scorpion Management in Residential Homes. Alabama Cooperative Extension System. published 2021-06-09; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Three types of scorpions can be found in Alabama. Of these, only two species are native and commonly find their way into garages, basements, and homes”
- Black Widow and Recluses: Avoiding Venomous Spiders of the Southeast. Alabama Cooperative Extension System. published 2018-11-28; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Two species of widow spiders inhabit Alabama”
- The Brown Recluse Spider: Facts & Control. Alabama Cooperative Extension System. published 2022-06-16; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“The brown recluse spider has been collected throughout Alabama but is more commonly found in the state’s northern half.”
- Report Aquatic Invasive Species. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Reports can be submitted at: [email protected] or by phone at (256)-353-2634.”
- GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.