What Do Praying Mantis Eat Hummingbirds? No, 4 Facts!
No, praying mantis do not eat hummingbirds.
Praying mantises are carnivorous insects that are excellent ambush predators.
They primarily feed on other insects but have been observed eating small vertebrates, including hummingbirds, particularly when food is scarce.
They catch their prey with their strong, spiked forelegs.
Four facts on what praying mantis eat:
Praying mantis primarily feed on other insects because their small size does not allow them to overpower larger animals.
They aren’t equipped to attack larger animals, meaning that hummingbirds are generally safe from predation.
Plus, insects are more readily available and easier to capture than hummingbirds.
5 Praying Mantis Eat Hummingbirds
| Praying Mantis | Hummingbirds | Interaction |
| Carnivorous insect | Small bird species | Praying mantises are known to catch and eat small birds, including hummingbirds |
| Can grow up to 6 inches | Weighs around 2 to 20 grams | The size and weight of praying mantises allows them to catch and consume hummingbirds |
| Feed on a range of insects and small animals | Mainly feed on nectar from flowers | Praying mantises are predators to hummingbirds, but hummingbirds do not prey on praying mantises |
| Camouflages well with plant life | Have sharp, elongated beaks and fast wing movement | Despite their quick movement and sharp beaks, hummingbirds can still fall prey to the well-camouflaged praying mantis |
| Found worldwide, particularly in warmer climates | Found across the Americas | Both species can come into contact in a wide range of habitats |
Key Takeaway
Five Facts About: Praying Mantis Eat Hummingbirds
What Do Praying Mantis Eat?
Praying mantis are insectivorous predators, meaning they mainly eat other insects. They also occasionally eat spiders, small vertebrates, mollusks and other invertebrates.
Typical meals for them include flies, moths, butter flies, grasshoppers, crickets, bees, spiders, and even small amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
List of Food Praying Mantis Eat:
Do Praying Mantis Eat Hummingbirds?
No, praying mantises do not eat hummingbirds. Praying mantises typically feed on other insects, such as flies, crickets, beetles, and moths.
Hummingbirds are much too large for a praying mantis to eat. Despite its size, a praying mantis is not equipped to capture or handle bigger prey, such as a hummingbird.
Praying mantises can also be threatened by hummingbirds, as the latter are territorial and may attack anything that appears to be a threat.
What Is the Diet of a Praying Mantis?
The diet of a praying mantis typically consists of insects such as flies, crickets, beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and spiders. In some cases, they may even feed on small reptiles or amphibians.
Some species of praying mantis can even be carnivorous, meaning they may attempt to consume smaller mantis as sustenance.
In addition to live prey, mantis can also eat fruit and vegetable matter such as apples, oranges, bananas, carrots, and cucumbers.
In captivity, mantis may be fed with a special mantis diet consisting of all the necessary nutrients.
What Do Hummingbirds Eat?
Hummingbirds eat primarily nectar from flowers and small insects or spiders for protein. They also eat tree sap, pollen, and fruit juices.
For nectar, look for colorful, tube-shaped flower varieties such as columbine, bee balm, and petunias.
To provide protein, strategic placement of small jars filled with over-ripe banana slices or crushed insect food may attract hummingbirds to the garden.
Some of the foods hummingbirds eat include:
Can Praying Mantis Catch Hummingbirds?
No, praying mantis cannot catch hummingbirds due to the speed at which hummingbirds fly and the size of a hummingbird being too small for a praying mantis to eat.
What Are the Benefits of Eating Hummingbirds for Praying Mantis?
Eating hummingbirds can be beneficial for praying mantis in many ways.
Below are listed some of the main benefits:
Do Praying Mantis Affect Hummingbirds Populations?
No, praying mantises do not directly affect hummingbird populations. However, hummingbirds may have to compete with praying mantises for access to food and nesting sites.
While praying mantises do not consume nectar and hummingbirds, they do consume insects that the hummingbirds would normally eat.
Thus, the presence of praying mantises could reduce the available food sources for hummingbirds and negatively impact their populations.
Here are some of the factors that affect the population of hummingbirds:
FAQ of What Do Praying Mantis Eat Hummingbirds
What do praying mantises eat?
Praying mantises are carnivores and generally feed on other insects, such as flies, beetles, and caterpillars. They may also eat small lizards and frogs, and occasionally, hummingbirds.
Are praying mantises dangerous?
Praying mantises are generally safe to people and pets. They will bite if agitated or provoked but the bite is generally harmless and no more severe than a bee sting.
Do praying mantises fly?
Most praying mantises can fly in short bursts. They have wings and, while they are not adept flyers, they can glide for a few seconds at a time.
Do hummingbirds eat praying mantises?
No, hummingbirds generally do not eat praying mantises. They are too large for hummingbirds to consume and they are also quite hard to catch.
Conclusion
Praying mantis are not a threat to hummingbirds as they primarily feed on other insects which are more accessible and easier to capture.
Praying mantis are carnivorous insects that primarily feed on grasshoppers, crickets, cicadas, aphids, moths and even other praying mantis.
