About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 2020)
8A Thursday, October 15, 2020 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com LIFE Count the Joros Help us spot invasive spiders this month BY KELSEY PODO kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com To better understand the population of invasive Joro spiders in Northeast Georgia, The Times is calling anyone with a camera to participate in the 2020 Joro Count. From Monday, Oct. 19, through Monday, Nov. 2, people are asked to record their sightings of Joro spiders by taking a photo and plotting the address on this Google map. Each spider location will appear as a red marker on the map. For those who see more than one Joro in the same area, please indicate the number of spiders in the description. People can also send their spider locations, date of sighting and photos to joro@gainesvilletimes.com. When the 2020 Joro Count ends, The Times will send the data to a Joro spi der research team at the University of North Georgia. Since August 2019, the group — led by Mattias Johans son, assistant biology professor — has measured the arachnid’s potential ecological impact. Through charting the spiders’ locations, the team will gain a firmer grasp on the species’ population size and range. By attaching a photo with each sub mission, The Times and UNG student scientists can determine whether the spider spotted is indeed a Joro. Many Northeast Georgians have already seen the arachnid with its black and bright yellow body and multi-layered webs. Not to be confused with writing and 2020 Joro Count What: Citizen science project where people can record and plot their Joro spider sightings When: Monday, Oct. 19, through Monday, Nov. 2 Where: Anywhere in Northeast Ga. How: Identify the spider by the splash of red on its abdomen and its multi-layered web. Place a marker on our 2020 Joro Count Google map or submit the location and number of spiders to joro@gainesvilletimes.com. Include photos if possible. More info: Email Kelsey Podo at joro@gainesvilletimes.com banana spiders — which are also yel low — people can identify the species by looking for key indicators like a splash or red on their abdomens and living arrangements. Johansson said the tell-tale sign lies with their webs. “ Joro’s webs are three-dimensional and often big,” Johansson told The Times in an Oct. 7, 2020 interview. “The webs are also yellow.” Joro spiders — which are native to China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan — started popping up in Northeast Geor gia in 2014, according to Johansson, who specializes in invasive species research. Participants of the 2020 Joro Count won’t have to travel far to find the large spiders. They thrive on the edge of forests and in people’s backyards, often making themselves at home under porches. Times file photos People tend to mix up the invasive Joro spider, right, with the native writing spider (also known as the yellow garden spider), left. Both spiders, along with the also yellow native banana spider, are now prevalent throughout the Northeast Georgia area, but Joro spiders tend to have splashes of red across their abdomens, as well as bigger, three-dimensional yellow webs. The Times is calling anyone with a camera to participate in the 2020 Joro Count in order to better understand the population of the invasive spiders in the Northeast Georgia area. more voices, more victories. $EMOW WSSHff CANCER msrrnnE When you’re facing cancer, you want a strong team on your side. Even better, two. That’s why Northeast Georgia Medical Center is now a network affiliate of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University - Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Together, we deliver some of the most effective treatments and promising clinical trials, right here at home. It all starts with more voices - and leads to more victories. Northeast Georgia Medical Center Learn about the collaboration, and choose your cancer doctor at nghs.com/more Emory Winship Cancer Institute Network Affiliates collaborate with Emory on quality and safety initiatives to improve care locally. EMORY WINSHIP CANCER INSTITUTE NETWORK AFFILIATE
