Although nursery web spiders measure only 0.6 inches in body length, they are among the biggest species found in New Hampshire. Females are bigger than males, and both sexes are yellowish-brown with dark bands and white markings on the back. Nursery web spiders are very similar to wolf spiders, and share some behaviors, such as hunting on the ground, but are not part of the same family.
Wolf spiders are brown to dark gray, with white markings on their backs and legs. They are often found on the ground inside burrows, waiting for insects and other small prey, or under leaves and fallen tree branches. Females are bigger than males, and can measure up to 1 1/2 inches in body length. Hogna carolinensis is one of the largest wolf spider species found in New Hampshire.
Jumping spiders form one of the biggest group of spiders across the world, but most of them live in tropical areas. They can measure from 0.4 to 1 inch in body length, and are active hunters which are able to jump when attacking the prey. In New Hampshire, the tan jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus) is a common species.
Orb-weaving spiders are those that spin the web in a round shape and use it to capture insects instead of hunting on the ground. Also called black and yellow garden spider, Argiope is a species found across North America, including New Hampshire. As in most spider species, females can reach 1 inch in body length and are much larger than males.