A spider's fang: How to design an injection needle using chitin-based composite material

Abstract

Spiders mainly feed on insects. This means that their fangs, which are used to inject venom into the prey, have to puncture the insect cuticle that is essentially made of the same material, a chitin-protein composite, as the fangs themselves. Here a series of structural modifications in the fangs of the wandering spider Cupiennius salei are reported, including texture variation in chitin orientation and arrangement, gradients in protein composition, and selective incorporation of metal ions (Zn and Ca) and halogens (Cl). These modifications influence the mechanical properties of the fang in a graded manner from tip to base, allowing it to perform as a multi-use injection needle that can break through insect cuticle, which is made of a chitin composite as well. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.