Giant, non-native spider may not be cause for concern

An adult female Joro shares a web with the much smaller adult male.

Carly Mirabile/University of Georgia/Bugwood.org photo

Spread of the Joro

Non-native spider may not be cause for concern

BY HOLLY KAYS OUTDOORS EDITOR

The sun was still high in the sky on a perfect October day last fall when I finished setting up my campsite in the Chattahoochee National Forest outside Helen, Georgia. Wandering through the woods to explore my new surroundings, I came to a sudden halt at the sight of an enormous spider, perched in the center of a giant web stretched across my path.

Roughly three inches across, its legs were banded yellow and black, those same colors intertwining in an intricate pattern atop its bulbous body. A swatch of bright red splashed across it. I’d never seen anything like it before.

Later, I would discover that I’d found my first Joro spider.

MARCH OF THE JORO

Native to Asia, the Joro spider was first spotted in the United States in 2013, between Athens and Atlanta in northeastern Georgia. Researchers at the University of Georgia investigated those sightings and found that they’d occurred very close to interstate highways.

“We sort of inferred that these spiders hitched a ride on a shipping container, or something to that effect,” said Andy Davis, assistant research scientist at University of Georgia’s Odum School of Ecology.

Since then, the spiders have become a common sight in northern Georgia, with some yards, especially in the Atlanta area, housing hundreds of the creatures. Eventually, Joro spiders will probably inhabit most of the country, said Davis.

“They’re great hitchhikers, really,” he said. “They’ll get on your car, in your wheel well. I’ve had one on my driver’s side, rearview mirror.”

Davis attributes the spider’s hitchhiking capabilities to sightings recorded in places far away from northern Georgia — Tulsa,

Oklahoma; Baltimore, Maryland; Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The spiders can travel significant distances even without help from people. When Joro eggs hatch in the spring, the young spiders use their silks to ride the wind to someplace new, traveling much farther than they could using their legs alone — a behavior called “ballooning.” Users of the species observation app iNaturalist have logged Joro spider observations throughout the portion of Georgia north of Macon, stretching east to Greenville, South Carolina, with a smattering of observations in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area too.

Last fall, Western North Carolina saw its first documented Joro spider observations. On Sept. 18, 2021, iNaturalist user flathat_wanderer found one at Gorges State Park in Transylvania County and a week later on Sept. 26, 2021, a Joro spider was found at A-B Tech in Asheville. A few days later, there was a sighting at Chimney Rock State Park, and a Joro spider was spotted along an old logging road in the Tuckasegee area of Jackson County on Oct. 12, 2021. So far this fall, there have been sightings in Macon County and downtown Weaverville.

“Whenever you see a sighting on iNaturalist, usually that means that there’s probably 100 more that haven’t been seen,” said Davis. “So it’s very likely that there’s populations being established right now, as we speak, in North Carolina.”

Keep watch for Joros

Through Saturday, Oct. 15, a Joro spotting contest is offering rewards for most verified accurate joro reports, most counties with verified reports and first report in county.

To enter the contest, report sightings or to find up-to-date information on the spider’s life cycle and current spread, visit jorowatch.org.

CONTINUED SPREAD LIKELY

Recent research suggests that the spider could ultimately thrive well beyond the confines of the Southeastern U.S.

The Joro spider is not the only member of its genus to find a home in North America. The closely related golden silk spider, also from Asia, has been present in the Southeast for 160 years, integrating itself to the ecology such that most people don’t even realize it’s not native. However, cold weather has always precluded the golden silk spider, which hails from the tropics, from spreading beyond the Southeast.

A paper that Davis and undergraduate researcher Benjamin Frick published this February in the Royal Entomological Society’s research journal Physiological Entomology suggests that won’t stop the Joro.

By measuring the physiological traits of captured female spiders, which are much larger and showier than the males, Davis and Frick found that the Joro spider has a shorter reproductive season than the golden silk spider, meaning that it can complete its lifecycle in regions where the summer season is short. Its metabolism is double that of the golden silk spider and its heart rate is 77% higher when exposed to low temperatures. In a brief freeze, 74% of Joro spiders survive compared to 50% of golden silk spiders.

“These findings suggest the Joro spider can exist in a colder climatic region than the southeastern USA,” the paper reads.

“This species is going to spread through most of the country because its physiology seems perfectly suited to live here, and also because it's a really good hitchhiker,” said Davis. “I mean, there's no reason that it's not going to spread.”

The question is what that spread will mean for the rest of the organisms that call North America home. At this point, Americans are used to hearing dire warnings about new invasives threatening to destroy the balance of life as we know it. The hemlock wooly adelgid is killing the once-mighty hemlocks, the fungus behind white-nose syndrome is decimating bat populations, and Burmese pythons are destroying wildlife in the Florida Everglades.

“That’s the million-dollar question, is what is this thing going to do to our native fauna,” he said. “The short answer is, we don’t really know yet.”

Researchers are studying that question, but it will take years to find the answer. However, the early news on Joros is pretty good, Davis said.

“It’s not really destroying anything,” he said. “It builds webs. The webs just blow away at the end of the season, so it's not really destroying the trees that it makes webs on. At most, it's eating some of our native bugs. But on the other hand, it's also eating some of the non-native bugs too, which is kind of a good thing.”

Davis contrasted the Joro’s observed impact with that of the spotted lanternfly, another invasive species native to Asia. The spotted lanternfly appeared in September 2014, around the same time as the Joro. Now it’s rampant throughout the Northeast, defoliating trees and “literally destroying the ecosystem,” Davis said. It was first detected in North Carolina last year.

“The Joro isn’t really in that category,” he said.

A recently released report from Wildlands Network and the National Parks Conservation Association identifies 20 priority sites for wildlife crossings in North Carolina — including four busy thoroughfares west of Asheville.

These include: Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River Gorge, U.S. 19 at the Blue Ridge Parkway, I-40 east of Canton and U.S. 441 through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The list also includes I-26 at the Appalachian Trail and I-40 at Kitsuma Peak between Black Mountain and Old Fort.

Human and wildlife interactions are on the rise on North Carolina’s roadways due to a rapidly growing human population and associated increased pressures from development. From 2017-19, the N.C. Department of Transportation reported nearly 57,000 wildlifevehicle collisions, resulting in more than $156 million in damages — a gross underestimate that does not account for collisions with small mammals, reptiles and other species. Wildlife crossing structures can help reduce this toll.

“Constructing or enhancing wildlife crossing structures can be costly, and the funds to do so come largely from competitive grant programs,” said Dr. Ron Sutherland, Wildlands Network’s Chief Scientist. “This means North Carolina needs to be strategic about investing in crossing projects that will have the greatest impact on wildlife and travelers’ safety. So, the question of the moment is: where do we need wildlife road crossings in North Carolina? This report is our answer to that question.”

Priority road segments were identified based on daily traffic counts; road characteristics; wildlife-vehicle collision numbers; proximity to protected lands, wetlands or rare species habitat; and connectivity models for black bears, timber rattlesnakes and box turtles. The team combined this information with special attention to wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots and important wildlife connectivity corridors to create a list of 179 priority crossing sites statewide. Input from a panel of more than 40 North Carolina wildlife experts allowed them to select the top 20 sites described in the report.

The report comes at a critical juncture, as sources of state and federal funding to build wildlife crossings and retrofit existing structures are expanding. The U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed by Congress in late 2021, includes $350 million for wildlife crossing infrastructure projects through a competitive grant program.

The full report is available at bit.ly/3f2yVwf.

AN UNFOLDING STORY

Up north, governments are urging citizens to kill spotted lanternflies on sight. But Davis asks the opposite of those who encounter Joros. Killing one or even 10 won’t make any difference at the population level — egg sacs, laid mid-October through November, contain 400-500 eggs apiece.

Instead of squishing them, he said, people should use them as a tool to overcome their fear of spiders.

“Don't kill it, and maybe even get to know it,” he said. “Give it a name, because you're going to be seeing it for the next three months. Use it to teach your kids about what spiders do. They're really gentle, and they’re not going to hurt you, and they’re striking to look at.”

Despite their size, Joro spiders have small fangs that don’t easily pierce human skin. According to PennState Extension, the spiders themselves are reluctant biters, and it can be hard to make them bite even when handling them. Their venom is weak, so when bites do occur they are less painful than a bee sting and don’t require medical attention.

Due to trade, travel and similar climates between the two countries, many of the invasive species currently thriving in the United States are native to China, as is the Joro — meaning that its new home is populated not only with species native to North America but also with an increasing list originating from Asia. There’s not yet any evidence that the Joro will harm native species, but there are indications it could help control invasive ones. The brown marmorated stinkbug, for instance — a universally detested invasive native to Asia.

“No other spiders will eat that thing, but the Joro will,” said Davis. “And it’s probably because they’re from the same region originally.”

The spotted lanternfly is also present in the Joro’s native range, said Davis, and it will be interesting to see how those species interact should their introduced range someday overlap. But only time will tell.

“Non-native species have a way of integrating themselves into the ecosystem after some time, and we don't really know how long that would take,” he said.

A new storybook trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park celebrating Cherokee culture will be on display through Friday, Nov. 4, on the Oconaluftee River Trail near Cherokee.

The award-winning children’s book “We Are Grateful Otsaliheliga” allows readers to follow the seasons with a Cherokee family who celebrate each season with an expression of gratitude. This dual-language storybook trail is the first of its kind to be translated in both Cherokee and English, with each panel including phonetic pronunciation for Cherokee words and the full Cherokee syllabary translation.

“I encourage you to enrich your fall Smokies visit by taking this walk through ancestral Tribal lands and immersing yourself in the Cherokee language, culture, and the thoughtful ways we can all celebrate the gifts of the seasons,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash.

Language translations for the book were made possible by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Speakers Council, Traci Sorrell, Bo Lossiah and Laura Pinnix with support from New Kituwah Academy, Cherokee Central Schools, Kituwah Preservation and Education Program, and Museum of the Cherokee Indians.

This is the sixth book to appear as part of the Storybook Trail of the Smokies series, a partnership between the park, EBCI, University of Tennessee Extension Cocke County Office

A young reader examines a panel in a previous Storybook Trail of the Smokies

display. NPS photo and Great Smoky Mountains Association to encourage literacy, promote healthy living and inspire stewardship in nature. The “We Are Grateful Otsaliheliga” Storybook Trail will move to the Tennessee side of the park later this fall. The book is available for purchase at any park visitor center or online at smokiesinformation.org.

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A training course in trail stewardship skills is coming to Panthertown Valley Nov. 2-4.

“Sustainable Trail Design and Layout, Construction, and Maintenance” will be taught by Tim Johnson, winner of the 2019 Advancing Trails Award for North Carolina from American Trails. It includes 9.5 hours of lecture, to be delivered in a classroom in Cashiers, and 14.5 hours of lab and fieldwork in Panthertown Valley.

Applications are now being accepted, with anyone 18 and older encouraged to apply. No previous trail work experience is required. Priority consideration will be given to underrepresented people ages 18-35.

Friends of Panthertown is covering course

Benton MacKaye Hike Fest coming up

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association will hold its 2022 Annual Meeting and Hike Fest Nov. 3-6 at Fontana Village Lodge and Resort, featuring an awards banquet Saturday, Nov. 5, and a full schedule of hikes throughout the weekend.

All hikes are limited to 15 hikers, with destinations including the Hangover, Yellow Creek Ridge and Nichols Cove.

The 288-mile Benton MacKaye Trail crosses through Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, including 93 miles in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A bill seeking to name it a National Scenic Trail is currently sitting in the House Committee of Natural Resources in Congress.

For more information, visit bmta.org/events/2022-annual-meeting-andhike-fest. Banquet registration closes Oct. 21.

Bike club starting at Hazelwood Elementary

A mountain bike skills club will meet at Hazelwood Elementary School in Waynesville after school on Wednesdays through Nov. 2.

Coaches from Kid Cycle Club will help participants improve their basic bike skills starting Wednesday, Oct. 12, with the club meeting weekly 3-5 p.m. Limited loaner bikes and helmets are available.

Sign up at bit.ly/haywoodrec.

October 12-18, 2022

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It’s color season, and a suite of six October hikes is on the schedule through the Haywood Recreation Department, exploring a range of altitudes. ■ On Wednesday, Oct. 12, Phyllis and Vickey will guide a hike from Newfound Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Charlies Bunion, with a total mileage of 8.6 miles and a 2,050-mile elevation gain. ■ A moderate 6.6-mile hike to Sam Knob via Flat Laurel Creek Trail will step off on Saturday, Oct. 15, with Tara leading the group to great views of multiple peaks over 6,000 feet. ■ Kathy will lead a hike to Max Patch via the Appalachian Trail on Sunday, Oct. 16. This easy 2.2-mile hike offers a view of the highest peaks in the eastern U.S. ■ On Wednesday, Oct. 19, Phyllis and Vickey will lead a hike on the Smokemont Lodge Trail, a 6.5-mile moderately challenging hike with 1,500 feet of elevation gain. ■ On Saturday, Oct. 22, Jamie and Ruffin will lead a point-to-point hike on the Little Cataloochee Trail taking in 5.4 miles of history over moderate terrain. ■ A hike to Grogan Creek Falls on Saturday, Oct. 29, will start behind the

Pisgah Hatchery in Transylvania County for an easy-to-moderate 4.3-mile hike with an elevation gain fo 510 feet.

All hikes are $10. Sign up at bit.ly/haywoodrec.

CMC kicks off 100 years

The Carolina Mountain Club will hold its Very Special CMC Annual Meeting Friday, Oct. 28, at the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park, kicking off its 100th year of existence. Founded in 1923, the club will celebrate its 100th birthday next year.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash will be the guest speaker for the event, which will also feature a video of an on-trail interview with Lew Blodgett, who is also in his 100th year and still does trail maintenance each week with his buddy Roy Davis.

Registration is open to CMC members with a deadline of Oct. 15. To RSVP or become a member, visit carolinamountainclub.org.

Boat with Bigelow

Botanist Adam Bigelow will lead a paddle tour of the Little Tennessee River through the Needmore State Game Lands at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22.

Bigelow will introduce participants to the extremely high biodiversity awaiting them on a route that host Alarka Expeditions describes as a “sublimely highlonesome, northbound southernAppalachian vein of gold.”

Cost is $85 with full gear and kayak rental or $50 for those who bring their own boat and gear. Sign up at alarkaexpeditions.com.

Adam Bigelow. Donated photo

Show off your sharpshooting

An archery competition at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at Cullowhee Recreation Center in Jackson County will give archers of all ages a chance to win some bragging rights.

This team competition will allow for up to three people per team with divisions for ages 10-12, 13-17 and 18-plus. Bows will be available for loan, with each age group shooting at a different range. The competition is open to recurve and compound bows, but crossbows and broadheads are not allowed. $50 per team. Register at cprd.recdesk.com.

Honor Long Man with a river cleanup event 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, in Cherokee.

The Cherokee have always viewed the river as Long Man, Ganvhidv Asgaya, whose head lay in the mountains and feet in the sea. A revered figure among the Cherokee, Long Man provided water for drinking, cleanliness, food and numerous cultural rituals tied to medicine and washing away bad thoughts and sadness.

This day honoring Long Man will begin with breakfast presented by the North American Indian Women’s Association, 8 a.m. at the Yellow Hill Community Center, followed by blessings of the river and river cleanup. The event goes beyond litter pickup to serve as a cultural reawakening. It will include educational activities and tree planting at Island Park for students from Cherokee Central Schools and New Kituwah Academy.

For more information or to sign up, visit ebci.com/government/news/honor-long-man-rivercleanup.

North Carolinians hang 7,500 ornaments on Capitol Christmas Tree

In the six months after the National Forests in North Carolina announced that the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree would come from North Carolina, more than 7,500 ornaments were donated to adorn “The People’s Tree” in Washington, D.C., this Christmas.

The influx of ornaments significantly exceeded the goal of 6,000. Schools, communities and civic organizations across the state decorated and donated ornaments, as well as partner agencies, organizations and hundreds of members of the public. Dozens of outreach and education events featured forestry lessons and ornament-making activities, and artists donated ornaments or provided materials and expertise to make them.

“I am amazed that we reached our goal early, but I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised that North Carolinians, and our friends and neighbors, rallied for the cause,” said Sheryl Bryan, U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree ornaments coordinator. “I am immensely proud of the people of North Carolina and of the ornaments on this year’s trees. Each one of them has been touched with love and pride of the ‘Old North State.’”

With the ornaments all collected, the Forest Service is preparing to start the tree’s tour through North Carolina and north to D.C. The voyage kicks off with a Harvest Celebration 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center in Fletcher. The tree will also stop at the Cherokee County Courthouse in Murphy 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, followed by a visit to Oconaluftee Island Park in Cherokee 6 to 8 p.m. the same day. On Monday, Nov. 7, it will be at the Pisgah Forest Ranger Station and Visitor Center noon to 1:30 p.m.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative is a 50-year tradition in which one of the country’s 154 national forests provides a tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. This is the third time North Carolina’s national forests have provided the tree, previously doing so in 1998 and 1974.

For more information, including a full list of tour stops, visit uscapitolchristmastree.com.

Cathey Bolton & the Health Benefits of Olive Oil

SUSANNA SHETLEY·

BENEFITS OF OLIVE OIL

Whether it’s creating beautiful handmade pottery, developing recipes for her restaurant or curating a vast selection of high-quality olive oils, Cathey Bolton is truly a talented artist, as well as a successful business person.

In 2018, Cathey and her mom, Katy Bolton, opened Corner Station Olive Oil Company to bring the world’s finest and largest selection of olive oils, balsamic vinegar, specialty vinegar, spices, seasonings and rubs to Western North Carolina. The store is located in their family’s service station that was built by Katy’s grandfather almost 100 years ago. It sits alongside Cathey’s pottery studio and Third Bay Filling Station Café.

Although we could write on many topics when it comes to Cathey this article focuses on Corner Station Olive Oil Company and how the quality of her oils far exceeds anything found in a regular grocery store and how the quality of the oils greatly impacts the wellness of an individual.

Packed with polyphenols: Polyphenols are powerhouse antioxidants we obtain through plant-based foods. They boost heart health and immunity, and the fresher, more organic the olive oil, the higher the polyphenols.

Reduces risk of certain cancers: Several recent studies suggest that a component called oleocanthal, found in certain extra-virgin olive oils, kill human cancer cells with no obvious effect on normal cells. A peppery taste in the back of the throat is a good indication the olive oil you're consuming is high in oleocanthal. Other cancer fighting properties in olive oil include oleic acid, hydroxytyrosol, phytosterols and squalene.

Supports positive mood: Several studies indicate that following a Mediterranean diet, which includes the consumption of high-quality olive oil, can help treat depression. Olive oil’s beneficial fats support the central nervous system which can increase levels of mood-supporting neurotransmitters.

Supports a healthy gut: The polyphenols in olive oil act like prebiotics in the gut, and because of its healthy fat content, it enhances the digestive tract’s nutrient absorption. Olive oil lubricates the gut, greatly helping with consistent elimination.

Helps balance blood sugar: Healthy fats are a key component when it comes to stabilizing blood sugar and preventing or managing type 2 diabetes. Contrary to what people once thought, olive oil does not contribute to weight gain. In fact, several studies have shown that it helped participants lose weight.

Anti-inflammatory properties: Olive oil is widely known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Monounsaturated fats have been shown to reduce levels of c-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker that’s shown to be elevated in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Further, oleocanthal has shown similar anti-inflammatory properties to ibuprofen.

Protects against heart disease: Olive oil is considered heart-healthy for many reasons. Oleic acid and various polyphenols are likely to thank for this health benefit of olive oil because they have an ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, and modify cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.

After a recent visit to Cathey’s store, I listened to several podcasts on olive oil and learned the majority of olive oil sold in commercial grocery stores is adulterated with other lower-quality oils and is made with less-than-fresh olives that have either already fallen from the tree or are past their picking stage. This is why connoisseurs suggest trying a generic, storebought version with a small batch version. The taste difference is unbelievable.

Olive oil has been called the OG of oils. It's been around for thousands of years, not only as a staple for cooking but also for religious, cultural, cosmetic and health reasons. Also, if you’re a foodie, like me, don’t believe the myth that olive oil can’t reach a high temperature. In fact, it actually has a moderate-to-high smoke point of 350 to 410 degrees fahrenheit, and the better the quality, the more even the smoke point.

If you’re curious about moving to higher quality olive oil, Cathey and her staff are knowledgeable and well-versed on all things related to olive oil. You will also be able to taste test the products and allow your palette to experience its own delight. Corner Station Olive Company is located in downtown Waynesville at 136 Depot Street, or you can visit them online.

Graphic Designer Jessica Murray (from left), Digital Media Specialist Stefanee Sherman, Account Representative Sophia Burleigh, Staff Writer Susanna Shetley, and Staff Writer Hannah McLeod and Amanda Singletary (not pictured)

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Western N.C. dries out as fall wildfire season begins

Heavy rains from Hurricane Ian eradicated dry conditions that spread through the eastern half of North Carolina throughout September, but the hurricane’s lighterthan-anticipated impact in the western region led to action on the state’s Oct. 4 drought report.

Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Swain counties are now marked abnormally dry based on data collected through 8 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, after receiving little to no rain from Ian. The storm dropped as much as 6 inches of rain on some locations in North Carolina, with the heaviest totals along the southern Outer Banks. With no rain falling in the western region since the last drought map published Oct. 6 — and little substantial rainfall in the ten-day forecast — that area could expand when the new map comes out Oct. 13.

“Fall weather and the beautiful changing foliage in North Carolina draws people outdoors to take in activities such as camping, hiking or working in their yards to dispose of leaves and other yard debris,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “When choosing to build a campfire, grill out in your yard or eliminate leaves by burning, it is important that you remain vigilant and safe with any outdoor fire to protect our forests. You are our best defense against wildfires.”

October marks the start of fall wildfire season in North Carolina, which typically runs through early December. During fiscal year 2021-22, 6,887 wildfires burned 26,958 acres in North Carolina, and only 1% of those fires were the direct result of a natural ignition source such as lighting. The remaining 99% were caused by human activity.

Livestock Hall of Fame gets new members

Two Buncombe County men have been added to the N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame in recognition of their longtime support to the fair and livestock industry in Western North Carolina.

Jerry Plemmons, of Leicester, spent his career as a teacher and principal while also raising beef cattle through his late 70s, still participating in the WNC Beef Cattle Commission. Jerry Roberts, a third-generation farmer and 25-year employee of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Resources, is a cow-calf producer with a commercial Angus herd. He serves on a variety of agriculture-related boards and committees, including the N.C. Cattleman’s

Association Board of Directors. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler

Inductees Jerry Plemmons and Jerry Roberts stand with

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. Donated photo inducted Plemmons and Roberts to the Hall of Fame during the opening weekend of the Mountain State Fair in September.