16/10/2024
A surprising predation event was observed where a Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) captured and ate a Ruby-throated Hummingbird !
In Green Castle, Missouri, a rare and dramatic case of predation was observed where a Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) captured and consumed a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). This event occurred at a hummingbird feeder, a common site where mantids have been seen preying on small birds. Although mantids usually feed on insects, large species like T. sinensis are known to opportunistically prey on small vertebrates. This incident highlights the potential risks hummingbirds face when visiting feeders frequented by predatory insects like mantids.