Praying mantises eating a Monarch caterpillar

It is that season again when many of us have swan plants growing and have the pleasure of witnessing the life cycle of the Monarch Butterflies. This gives ongoing interest to both young and old. It also brings home the reality that an insect’s life is a brutal fight for survival. Most know that the paper wasp attacks the caterpillar stage of the Monarchs particularly when they are small but have any of you witnessed a Praying Mantises devouring a large caterpillar? Not a pretty sight.