Spiders are equipped with all sorts of specialized mechanisms for catching insects. Some swing from a long strand of silk onto their prey as it flies by. Fishing spiders walk on water, and can even dive below the surface to catch food. Jumping spiders can pounce on an insect from several inches away. Some members of the spider family even have the ability to change colors in order to blend into their surroundings.
All spiders produce silk from glands near the tip of the abdomen.
It has been estimated that spider silk is stronger for its size than steel. Spiders use their silk not only to make webs, but also to line their nests, construct egg sacs, and to make parachutes that enable them to travel great distances. It's unlikely that you will ever be bitten by a spider. Most are harmless to humans, except for the tarantula, black widow and the brown recluse. Only the black widow is present in New Hampshire.