Analysis of eight spider venom glands using Raman spectroscopy

•Eight spiders belonging to five diverse genera and four varying families are studied.•Venom glands are a practical alternative to venom for Raman research.•Raman spectroscopy is an effective method with good repeatability and stability to study spider venom glands, which can provide a preliminary classification for the eight spiders.•The active ingredients in the venom glands of all eight spiders contain carotenoids. Spider venom has high research value for use as an insecticide and drug, but its extraction is expensive and complicated. In this paper, Raman microspectroscopy was used to determine the secondary structure of the proteins, which are the active ingredients in venoms, and the venoms were obtained from eight spiders: Hippasa lycosina, Lycosa grahami, Lycosa wangi, Lycosa yunnanensis, Heteropoda venatoria, Psechrus ghecuanus, Macrothele yani and Macrothele yunnanica. The results indicate that venom glands are the preferred substitute for venom for research. Second, the eight glands have similar strongest Raman peaks, but there are partial differences in the weaker peaks and relative intensity ratios, and the differences can give a preliminary classification for the eight spiders. Third, Raman spectroscopy is an effective method with good repeatability and stability to study spider venom glands. [Display omitted]