According to the University of Georgia study, Joro spiders prey on 26 unique insect species that native orb weavers do not eat, including leafhoppers and aphids. ^[1] Erin Grabarczyk of Valdosta State University and Jason Schmidt of the University of Georgia at Tifton published a study in PLOS ONE on 24 June 2026 regarding the dietary overlap between invasive Joro spiders and native orb weavers. ^[2] A University of Georgia study published in PLOS One analyzed the stomach contents of more than 200 Joro spiders from 33 sites across Georgia and South Carolina, comparing them to over 140 native orb weavers. ^[3] Researchers indicated that Joro spiders are likely to remain in the region because the climate is similar to their native Japan, they are cold-hardy, and they spread by ballooning with the wind. ^[4] The study found that native orb weavers' diets remained unchanged whether or not Joro spiders were present, indicating Joros are not competing with them for food. ^[5] Analysis of gut contents at sites where Joro spiders were present showed no statistically significant difference in native spider diets compared to sites where Joro spiders were absent. ^[6] Researchers collected 356 female orb-weaving spiders from 52 sites in Georgia and South Carolina between 2 October and 24 October 2021 to analyze their gut contents. ^[7] The study found that the prey families consumed by Joro spiders were statistically distinguishable from those of three co-occurring native species, showing 10 to 25 percent dissimilarity in common prey families. ^[8]