According to some estimates a striking mantis is successful at capturing its prey 85 percent of the time. And they get lots of practice. A healthy and hungry mantid can consume up to 15 crickets a day. Captured prey are securely clutched and transported still alive to the mandibles. These small but strong pincers quickly chop even large prey to bite-sized fragments suitable for swallowing.
Greedy mantids can sometimes grab a second prey while still munching on the first one.
A common misconception is that female mantids always eat their partners during or after mating. This behavior, aptly named sexual cannibalism, does not occur in all species or in all matings. In fact, in only one species, the European mantid, is this behavior noted and then only infrequently and while being closely observed in artificial or captive conditions. Mantids are beneficial because they consume other insects. However, their impact in the garden and landscape is probably negligible.