Tools

Yesterday, we had a very heavy lightning storm here in the Huntsville area. A couple of our sunflowers, one of our pavilions, and some minor plants have not survived the strong winds and torrential rains. The plant where our Mantis lives also took a beating, the top kind of toppled over at a ninety degree angle. My wife was concerned about Madam's safety, but she usually stays in the thickest part of the plant these days, in the middle of the jungle that is formed by the leafs and branches that grow in every direction. So no worries on my side.
And this morning, after we brought the plant back in a somewhat normal position, Madam undertook a little inspection tour. And posed for some close-ups for me in the process.
The picture shows her mouth - a fearsome tool to dismantle her prey. Also, notice the "thorns" on her "fore leg" (they are somewhat out of focus - in that kind of close-up macro photography, the depth of field is measured in fractions of millimeters, and my main focus here was her mouth) - with those, she is holding her prey in a deadly grip while ripping pieces out of them. Good thing we are not on the menu ...