Mini Post: Spiders of Tokorozawa

I haven't posted in a while and I think it's because I'm trying to make every post a post of epic proportions. (For example, a comprehensive post on food experiences here. One post could never cover all this...) So, to get unstuck, I'm going to try sprinkling in some mini posts. Today, the topic is very appropriate to my status as a Richmond Spider--the breathtaking spiders I have encountered here on campus in Japan.

My best shot of the Joro spider - note the mate nervously skulking just out of frame.

I was waiting under the bus shelter in the morning a couple of weeks ago when I noticed that every nook of this large structure was occupied by an intricate and iridescent web. On each web sat a rather large and interestingly patterned spider. (Okay, I know a good portion of readers are internally screaming RUN AWAY! right now, but I am not particularly bug-phobic and as you'll see these spiders are not dangerous.) Interestingly, some of the webs also had a smaller version of the bigger spider clinging to the web as well. I attempted to take photos of the spiders and their webs, but my technique and my smartphone struggled--as you can see.

To the internet!

By Christina Butler from Georgia, United States - [https://www.flickr.com/photos/144198875@N02/50564813031/ Joro Spider - Trichonephila clavatamlqooppsulhq Lidl HK go ñ km.], CC BY 2.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95891421

This spider is Trichonephilia clavata, known commonly known as the the Joro spider (ジョロウグモ). The name comes from the Japanese term Jorogumo ( 絡新婦 , じょろうぐも), which describes a creature of Japanese folklore that can shapeshift from a spider into a beautiful woman and engage in all types of mischief. (The kanji characters above apparently literally translate into "entangling newlywed woman." Love that.) You can read more about Jorogumo in Japanese folklore as well as modern manga and anime here.

Jorōgumo from the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō by Toriyama Sekien. Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1255778

The Joro spider is found throughout East Asia (except, interestingly, the Japanese island of Hokkaido) and made its way to the U.S. in the 2010s, starting in the southeastern region (specifically, Georgia). Joro spiders and other similar species are sometimes referred to as Golden Orb Weaver spiders because their webs glow with a golden color in the sunlight (which I observed the morning I first noticed their webs). They mate in the fall and the males are about 1/3 the size of the females, so I likely was observing some courtship in progress. (Whether or not the female devours her mate afterwards seems to be a matter of some debate.)

Should we be concerned about Joro spiders, either here in Japan or in the U.S.? The answer so far seems to be no. These spiders are skittish and unlikely to bite unless their exoskeleton is really up against the wall. And, in the rare case they would bite, their venom is not poisonous to humans or pets. In the past few weeks hiking in the woods, I've accidentally walked through a web a few times and and nothing untoward happened--at least to me. (Sorry Joro spider! I really try to avoid the webs.) As for the spider's status as an invasive species in the U.S., even that's not too worrisome (so far) because they eat stinkbugs and other problematic bug species --maybe even species that other spiders don't eat.

So, if you see a Joro spider, admire her from afar, appreciate her handiwork, and let her live her life.

As the days of autumn grow shorter here in Tokorozawa, I'm seeing the Joros less and less. They will complete their lifecycle, dying off as winter approaches. In the Spring, their offspring will emerge and take to the wind, spinning silken parachutes and "ballooning" to new locations a la the conclusion of Charlotte's Web. Maybe someday I'll be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of that, too.