The diversity of insects can be explained by their ability to fill various ecological niches, which includes the foraging from diverse sources. The cuticle-based feeding structures interact with the food and show adaptations in shape, material composition and mechanical properties to it. In this study, we focus on the mouthparts of a very prominent ambush predator, the antlion larvae of Euroleon nostras. By nanoindentation, we tested the hardness and the Young’s modulus of the mouthparts, which are significantly harder and stiffer than other insect cuticle structures. To gain insight into the origins of the high values, we studied the degree of tanning using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Additionally, we determined the content of transition and alkaline earth metals by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. We found that the proportions of Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, Ca, Mg, and Si correlate with the mechanical property values. We also conducted experiments on the breaking stress, the puncturing and biomechanical behaviour of the jaws, which highlighted their extraordinary strength. These findings are not only valuable for biologists, but also for material scientists, as they contribute to our understanding of the origins of mechanical property heterogeneities in insect cuticle.

昆虫的多样性可以用它们填补各种生态位的能力来解释，其中包括从不同来源觅食。基于角质层的喂养结构与食物相互作用，并在形状、材料成分和机械性能方面表现出适应性。在这项研究中，我们关注一种非常突出的伏击捕食者的口器，即Euroleon nostras的蚁狮幼虫. 通过纳米压痕，我们测试了口器的硬度和杨氏模量，这些口器比其他昆虫表皮结构更硬、更硬。为了深入了解高值的来源，我们使用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜研究了晒黑的程度。此外，我们通过能量色散 X 射线光谱确定了过渡金属和碱土金属的含量。我们发现 Zn、Mn、Fe、Cu、Ca、Mg 和 Si 的比例与机械性能值相关。我们还对颌骨的断裂应力、穿刺和生物力学行为进行了实验，突出了它们非凡的力量。这些发现不仅对生物学家有价值，对材料科学家也很有价值，