David and Goliath: a palm weevil (Rhynchophorus palmarum) kills a Great- tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) in Nicaragua

An unusual case of predation reversal is reported in which an adult Rhynchophorus palmarum caused  the death of an insectivorous bird, Quiscalus mexicanus, during an attempted predation event. The  observation suggests that the combination of an exceptionally hardened exoskeleton and the active use  of recurved tibial spines allowed the weevil to firmly anchor to the bird’s neck, resulting in  strangulation. This mechanical anti-predator mechanism has not been previously described and may  represent a more widespread defensive strategy within the genus Rhynchophorus.