What akepa like to eat?

Akepas are small Hawaiian honeycreepers that primarily feed on nectar and insects. Their long, pointed beaks are perfectly adapted for reaching deep into flowers to extract nectar. Their main sources of nectar include native plants like ʻōhiʻa lehua, ʻōlapa, and lobelias. In addition to nectar, akepas actively forage for insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates like ants and flies, which provide them with essential proteins. To catch these insects, akepas use their sharp beaks to probe tree bark, leaves, and flowers, and they nimbly move among branches and foliage in their search for food.