The colorful birds known as Bee-eaters, belonging to the family Meropidae, are one of the few predators whose name perfectly describes their diet. The answer to the query is unequivocally yes: Bee-eaters are expert hunters of bees and other stinging insects. Found across Africa, Asia, southern Europe, and parts of Australia and New Guinea, these birds are recognized by their brightly colored plumage, slender bodies, and characteristic long, downturned bills. Their appearance and hunting style are highly adapted for catching and consuming flying invertebrates.
The Bee-Eater’s Primary Prey
The diet of Bee-eaters is heavily concentrated on flying insects, with bees and wasps from the order Hymenoptera often forming the largest portion. While the name suggests a singular focus, the actual percentage of bees in the diet varies significantly based on the species, season, and local environment. Studies have shown that the proportion of bees and wasps can range anywhere from 20% to a dominating 96% of their total intake.
For species like the European Bee-eater, honeybees frequently become the most targeted prey item when an apiary is nearby, as the constant flow of worker bees provides a predictable and dense food source. An adult bird outside of the breeding season may consume 70 to 100 insects daily, but this number can nearly triple when feeding young. During the nesting period, a pair may need to catch up to 300 insects per day, with honeybees making up 60% to 80% of the meals delivered to the nestlings due to their local abundance.
Disarming the Sting: The Handling Technique
Consuming a venomous insect requires a specialized and precise technique that Bee-eaters have perfected to neutralize the prey’s defense mechanism. After snatching a bee or wasp mid-air with their long, pointed bill, the bird returns to a perch, which can be a branch, wire, or other hard surface. The bird then performs a distinct, learned manipulation, repeatedly striking the insect’s abdomen against the hard surface. This action serves two purposes: it kills or stuns the insect, and it applies pressure to the venom sac.
Following the initial strikes, the Bee-eater executes a specialized rubbing motion, dragging the stinger end of the insect across the perch. This final step is designed to extract the stinger and discharge the remaining venom, making the prey safe to swallow whole.
Beyond the Hive: Other Insect Prey
Bee-eaters are ultimately generalist insectivores, and their diet broadens considerably when bees and wasps are less available or when they are feeding chicks. Major non-stinging prey items include dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata), flies (Diptera), various moths, and beetles (Coleoptera). Larger insects like grasshoppers (Orthoptera) and cicadas are also incorporated into the diet, especially by larger Bee-eater species.
The birds hunt from an exposed perch, launching into a swift flight to catch their prey before returning to the perch to consume it. While commercial beekeepers often perceive Bee-eaters as a major threat, studies suggest that while the birds reduce foraging activity near apiaries and limit resource collection, they typically do not pose a widespread threat to the overall survival and viability of the hive itself.