Insects rarely come to mind as hummingbird predators. However, certain praying mantis species have been observed preying on these agile, nectar-feeding birds. This phenomenon showcases the mantis’s remarkable adaptability and predatory prowess. It highlights a lesser-known aspect of the food web, where an insect can subdue a bird known for its speed and aerial agility.
The Mantis’s Predatory Tactics
Praying mantises are highly specialized predators, employing an ambush hunting strategy. They blend seamlessly into their surroundings through camouflage, often mimicking leaves, twigs, or flowers, remaining undetected by unsuspecting prey. The mantis uses its exceptional vision, provided by large compound eyes, to detect movement and judge distances with precision, enabling it to track potential meals. Their head can rotate up to 180 degrees, significantly expanding their field of view without moving their body.
The forelegs of a praying mantis are highly modified into powerful raptorial appendages, instrumental in their hunting success. These legs are equipped with sharp spines that act like hooks, forming a trap-like grip when they close. Once prey is within striking distance, the mantis unleashes a lightning-fast strike. This strike can occur in a fraction of a second, making escape nearly impossible for the captured animal.
The Mechanics of the Kill
When a hummingbird ventures too close, often attracted to flowers or feeders where a mantis may be lurking, the mantis executes its rapid attack. The strike is swift, with the mantis extending its forelegs to impale and grasp the hummingbird. The spiny forelegs pierce the bird’s body, securing it firmly. Once impaled, the mantis maintains a powerful grip, preventing the hummingbird from escaping.
The mantis holds its prey with one or both specialized forelegs, often dangling the bird while it begins to consume it. Mantises consume their prey while it is still alive. They often start by feeding on the hummingbird’s head, targeting nutrient-rich tissues. The mantis’s strong mandibles shear off pieces of its prey, focusing on the most nutritious parts, such as internal organs and blood. The consumption process can be prolonged, with the mantis gradually feeding on the bird.
Why This Occurs
The predation of hummingbirds by praying mantises is an infrequent but documented occurrence. Mantises are opportunistic carnivores, meaning they will attack and consume any prey they can subdue, regardless of whether it is an insect or a vertebrate. A 2017 paper found 147 incidents of birds being attacked by mantises across 13 countries on all continents except Antarctica. Hummingbirds, being among the smallest birds, are particularly vulnerable targets for larger mantis species.
This type of predation typically involves larger mantis species, such as the Chinese mantis, which can grow up to 3.5 inches in length. These larger mantises are capable of overpowering a hummingbird, which can weigh less than a nickel. Encounters often happen when a hummingbird hovers near a mantis’s ambush spot, such as on a flower or a hummingbird feeder. While mantises primarily feed on insects, their hunger levels can broaden their prey selection, leading them to strike at larger targets if the opportunity arises. These events demonstrate the mantis’s predatory flexibility.