While one of the murderous talons holds the quarry gripped by the middle of the body, the other presses the head downwards, so that the articulation between the back and the neck is stretched and opens slightly.

The snout of the Mantis gnaws and burrows into this undefended spot with a certain persistence, and a large wound is opened in the neck.

At the lesion of the cephalic ganglions the struggles of the cricket grow less, and the victim becomes a motionless corpse.

Thence, unrestricted in its movements, this beast of prey chooses its mouthfuls at leisure..