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Today is National "Save a Spider" Day,  a day when arachnids everywhere relax and let their spinnerets down. Since I am not personally adept at saving spiders, I'm fortunate to have a husband who has honed his cup-and-paper trapping skills, so that is how we'll be celebrating. (Cup-and-paper–impaired? Try the Humane Bug Catcher.) For those of you arachnophobes who may be wondering if it counts if you watch a Tobey Maguire film, consider the following facts about spiders that you may not know of yet: 

• Fans of Spyder roadsters, did you know that spiders extend their limbs using hydraulic pressure?
• Spiders eat a lot of the insects whom people aren't always so fond of, such as mosquitoes, flies, ants, and aphids. They do not, however, eat curds and whey.
• Spider webs are similar in strength to nylon, but they're much more elastic and less prone to breaking or losing their shape. I'd like them to teach the makers of my pantyhose a thing or two.
• Spiders were used in some ancient artwork to symbolize patience.
• One species of spider is actually vegetarian. (Spiders for the Ethical Treatment of Animals?)

If you're one of the Mazda or Honda drivers whose car saved a spider and you would rather not celebrate the holiday on the interstate, PETA will gladly accept your car and its inhabitants for our lifesaving work for all animals, leg count notwithstanding.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

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Bugs are fascinating, and if anyone tries to tell you different, have them check out this article, which offers proof that many insects are tiny geniuses who are capable of counting, categorizing objects, and recognizing human faces. Recent studies show that even though their brains are oh-so-teeny-tiny, ants, bees, and other braniac bugs are brilliant creatures. There is overwhelming evidence that brain size has no effect on intelligence and that in many cases a bigger brain is not a smarter brain.

One study shows that honeybees, whose behavioral abilities rival that of some vertebrates, can determine whether or not shapes are symmetrical, can classify objects according to sameness and difference, and will stop flying after passing a predetermined number of landmarks.

I bet if you tried you could think of a few humans who struggle with those three tasks. I've been known to have a little trouble with that last one, myself.

So the next time you see one of these clever critters, keep in mind their ingenious minds, and let them live their complex, profound lives. We've got just the thing to help you.

Written by Logan Scherer