As shocking and sad that a mantis can actually catch a hummer (which amazed me), I expect it is an EXTRAORDINARILY rare event. In my 25 years of organic gardening (encouraging mantises among other beneficial insects), I have never seen a mantis with anything larger than a grasshopper or moth. And in untold numbers of weeding events, I have never found a hummingbird carcass on the ground among the flowers. Mantids aren't perfectly beneficial; they will catch a few "good" insects, too. But they shouldn't be considered any real threat to hummers either. Heck, I kept one as a "pet" for a couple of months once (put it on a thread leash and fed it moths). They are relatively safe to handle. You can just grab them gently from behind (like pinching a pencil in the middle) and they can't reach you. Or just put a long stick in front of them and they will generally get on it (they are afraid of you). Or push them into a slippery bowl and dump them on any plant away from the hummer feeders; they do not usually travel far. I'm a hummer-lover, but I am also mantis-friendly...

Talking about entertainment.... My wife was so worried that the praying mantis gang had nothing to eat, and it was too cold outside, etc. The next day, we noticed a large dark spot on the living room ceiling, and when I went to investigate, It was a group of spiders!!! That tree was a veritble ZOO! BIll

Jean, the invasive Chinese mantids, now very common in the States, seem to be the usual culprit of the hummingbird murders. They are even responsible for the decline of our native mantis species. Upstate, the others have given you the reason for my dislike of mantids. If they would keep their crummy little claws off my butterflies, bees, wasps, assassin bugs, and ladybugs, I might stop evicting them. They are absolutely not welcome in my gardens.

Your concern for your hummingbirds is understandable! Based on your description, it sounds like you're dealing with a native species of praying mantis in Pennsylvania. The absence of wings in your photo indicates that it's likely a young mantis, as you mentioned. To be certain about the species and potential threat to your hummingbirds, you might want to reach out to local entomologists or wildlife experts. They can provide accurate identification and advice on how to manage the situation without harming the mantis, which is beneficial for natural pest control.