Praying Mantis vs Hummingbird

[Jessie]

I just watched a fascinating encounter between the two. Can a Praying Mantis actually catch and eat a Hummingbird?
It looked as if it was getting ready to catch one but the bird saw it and hovered around it zipping back and forth for a while.
This happened twice with two different birds.
I know they don't have a beak per say, but the bird was at least 5 times larger and they do have legs and feet to fight with.
The mantis was about 4" long.
Very interesting encounter.
I guess I'm easy to please anymore.

 

[fat tom]

Yep.

praying mantis eats hummingbird video - Bing Videos

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...&mid=9DB012922BBA6E554CA39DB012922BBA6E554CA3

f.t.

 

[Jessie]

Wow, I never would have figured that.
Is this a great site, or what?!
I like praying mantis's, but I like hummingbirds more. I'll have to keep an eye out and shoo away the mantis if it gets near the bird's feeding areas.

 

[pownal55]

The problem I see is wasps. They land on the feeder to lap up the sugar residue and chase the humming birds away when they get close. It's clear the little birds don't care to mess with them.

 

[Jessie]

The problem I see is wasps. They land on the feeder to lap up the sugar residue and chase the humming birds away when they get close. It's clear the little birds don't care to mess with them.

Yeah, they're a pest, but at least they won't eat the bird.
The problem area are the hasta blooms. Hummingbirds love them and that's where the mantis was.
Maybe I'll clip the flowers off.

 

[6518John]

The problem I see is wasps. They land on the feeder to lap up the sugar residue and chase the humming birds away when they get close. It's clear the little birds don't care to mess with them.

Pownal--This site gives some excellent tips. Nintey-percent of wasp probelms can be taken care of by two things--fresh nector (use 1 part sugar, 4 parts water. I boil mine, although probably not not necessay) swap it out weekly. I do see you are in Vermont so yours probably lasts longer than here down south where it is so hot all hummingbird season.

The second is easy, simply move the feeder. Wasps and bees, how should I say this politely, are STUPID! Many times they simply can't find the feeder again. (By the way, my best wasp story--I was sitting on the deck years ago drinking a gin and tonic. Big wasp lites on the highball glass and proceeds start drinking. I was about to shoo him away, but thought, "let's see how this plays out." He finishes, flies straight up like a helicopter, hovers a second, then flies straight into the wall! Good lesson on drinking and flying).

You can also put out wasp traps if you have a bunch of them. Other great tips below.


Uninvited Guests: Wasps, Hornets, Yellow Jackets and Other Flying Insects

 

[BigBill]

I have hummingbird plants and a liquid feeder. I noticed a big looking bumble bee that had antennas. It turned out to be a miniature hummingbird. They been coming here for a while now.

This year were seeing more and more wild turkeys. They kind of follow my misses when she puts out the feed. There not weary of people. I hear them in the woods behind my house I figure they watch the misses all the time for her putting out bread scraps. We had our best year so far with blueberries we picked a gallon and the new bushes are very small yet.
My apples, pears and peaches are gone already due to the bear and deer.

I have nests of bees all over the place. I have larger nests in the green house. Since the bee population is way down I leave them alone.

I do have a nest of the white faced hornets somewhere. I hope I find them before they find me.

 

[Bullet Bob]

"There not weary of people."
_____________________________________

Wish I could say the same.

If you don't mind, could you please list the general area of the country you live in? I've never seen a miniature hummingbird.

 

[Jessie]

I have hummingbird plants and a liquid feeder. I noticed a big looking bumble bee that had antennas. It turned out to be a miniature hummingbird. They been coming here for a while now.

This year were seeing more and more wild turkeys. They kind of follow my misses when she puts out the feed. There not weary of people. I hear them in the woods behind my house I figure they watch the misses all the time for her putting out bread scraps. We had our best year so far with blueberries we picked a gallon and the new bushes are very small yet.
My apples, pears and peaches are gone already due to the bear and deer.

I have nests of bees all over the place. I have larger nests in the green house. Since the bee population is way down I leave them alone.

I do have a nest of the white faced hornets somewhere. I hope I find them before they find me.

You sure it's not a Clearwing Hummingbird Moth? They fly like a hummingbird but look like a little lobster almost. They hang around Azalea bushes a lot.

 

[6518John]

"There not weary of people."
_____________________________________

Wish I could say the same.

If you don't mind, could you please list the general area of the country you live in? I've never seen a miniature hummingbird.

Bob--you have never seen one because there is no such thing--the smallest humminging bird, in fact any bird in North America is the Calliope Hummingbird. It does not have any attachments to it's head but can flare it's gorget to each side of it's neck.

Calliope Hummingbird, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

[Stevens]

And there I was, wondering what the Praying Mantis wanted with that hummingbird feeder he was buying at Walmart the other day!
Steve W