The object of this mimicry seems evident; the Mantis wishes to terrorise its powerful prey, to paralyse it with fright; for if not demoralised by fear the quarry might prove too dangerous.
Does it really terrify its prey?
Under the shining head of the Decticus, behind the long face of the cricket, who is to say what is passing?
No sign of emotion can reveal itself upon these immovable masks.

Yet it seems certain that the threatened creature is aware of its danger.

It sees, springing up before it, a terrible spectral form with talons outstretched, ready to fall upon it; it feels itself face to face with death, and fails to flee while yet there is time.

The creature that excels in leaping, and might so easily escape from the threatening claws, the wonderful jumper with the prodigious thighs, remains crouching stupidly in its place, or even approaches the enemy with deliberate steps.[2] It is said that young birds, paralysed with terror by the gaping mouth of a serpent, or fascinated by its gaze, will allow themselves to be snatched from the nest, incapable of movement.

The cricket will often behave in almost the same way.