Parade: What are Joro spiders?

Morehouse, an associate professor of biology in UC's College of Arts and Sciences, told Parade magazine that the spiders got their name from Jorōgumo, a mythical creature from Japanese folklore.

"Jorōgumo are shapeshifting spiders that can turn into beautiful women to ensnare and eat young men," Morehouse told Parade. "The name in modern kanji translates literally to 'entangling bride.'"

Morehouse has studied the vision of spiders around the world and serves as director of UC's Institute for Research in Sensing.

Scientists say Joro spiders are more tolerant of cold temperatures than other spiders, which could help them spread farther north than native orb-weaving spiders found in the South.

The good news is Joro spiders are docile and have little interest in making a home in people's homes, he said.

And their enormous webs can trap plenty of biting flies or mosquitoes if people are willing to tolerate their colorful garden guests, Morehouse said.

"My best advice is to adopt a stance of curiosity toward these newcomers, which live fascinating and surprisingly beautiful lives, all while eating lots of insects every day and night," Morehouse said.

Read the Parade story.

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