Summer's heat may cause nectar in a feeder to expand and leak out. Keep pests at bay with a clean, leak-free feeder.
Feeders filled with sugar water or jelly attract sweet-tooth birds, such as hummingbirds and orioles. But sometimes, not-so-welcome guests, including ants, wasps and bees, crawl into feeders and create problems. “You can deter insects while remembering they’re part of nature, too,” says Emma Greig, the project leader for Project FeederWatch of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
For frustrated backyard birders, it may be tempting to use pesticides or oils to deter bugs, but Emma advises against these options because they may harm birds, as well as the bees whose populations are declining. Instead, try some of these all-natural solutions. The birds (and bees!) will thank you.
1. Choose red saucer feeders.
With their long tongues, hummingbirds can reach the nectar—but insects can’t. Plus, while hummingbirds prefer the color red, bees are attracted to yellow. (Read more! Hummingbird Sugar-Water 101)
2. Attach an ant moat.
Ant moats are typically about 3 inches wide and 1 to 2 inches deep, above jelly and sugar-water feeders. Because ants can’t swim, water is an effective deterrent. Make moats or buy feeders with moats built in. Keep them clean and filled with water.
3. Hang feeders with fishing line.
Fishing line is too thin for ants to climb, which means they won’t be able to reach your hummingbird feeders for a free meal.
4. Slip nectar guard tips over hummingbird feeder holes.
The nectar guards block insects like yellow jackets, but hummingbirds can still get to the nectar. You can buy them or create your own mesh guard out of an onion bag.
5. Periodically move the feeders.
Just moving feeders by 3 or 4 feet will help insects lose track of them. Birds will still find them easily, but insects often won’t.
6. Hang a few fake wasps’ nests.
Make sure to do this in protected areas to deter real wasps, which are territorial and won’t typically venture into a place they think is already occupied.
7. Plant bee- and hummingbird-friendly food sources.
Try annuals like fuchsia and impatiens and perennials like trumpet vine, bee balm and milkweed in hanging baskets and in your garden. (Read more! How to Create a Hummingbird-Friendly Plant Container)
Mike Hutchko says
spraying your hummingbird poles with WD-40 keeps the ants and other critters from crawling up them too
Karen Taylor says
Put Vaseline on the feeder hook to keep ants out
Chris says
I hung out a hummingbird feeder with red liquid and about 4 days later the red turned clear. Anybody know why?
Cathy says
The red dye in the liquid is unnecessary anyway. Just make sure it’s a 4 parts water to 1 part sugar and you’re fine.
David Colton says
Red dye doesn’t attract hummers and is not as healthy for them as a clear 1 to 4 pure white sugar to water solution. Replace the sugar water solution every 2 days in hot weather, or when it turns cloudy.
Deanette says
Another way to keep the ants out is to use a little Avon Skin So Soft Oil, Regular Scent. Spray a little on a paper towel and rub the hook and I even rub the pole w/ the paper towel. It will keep the ants AWAY!
Diane says
anyone know of a good hummingbird feeder?? Mine fall apart, I want one with the ant moat and all the bells and whistles!
David Colton says
I use “First Nature 3055 32 oz. Hummingbird feeders from Amazon. Three advantages: 1) Easy to take apart and clean, 2) Feeding holes big enough for Orioles to feed from it. 3) Nectar level in bottom saucer is low enough that bees can’t feed from it. I have two feeders up. At this time of year through migration in October use about 1 full liter of nectar (no red dye!) a day. Location: San Diego
Trap-it-Ant Bulk Trap Red from Amazon. Is simply a water mote that ants can’t cross. Easy to refill. Good Luck!
Bonnie says
Yes, get a HummZinger HighView feeder. The top is all red which does not attract wasps or bees. They have a built in ant moat. My only problem was that my chickadees and goldfinches decided that the ant moat was their private water bowl. It was funny and cute but they pooped on the feeder and sometimes scared the hummer away so I stopped putting water in the ant moat and put a hanging water bowl nearby and fixed that problem. Now all is fine.
Carol says
Hummzinger by aspects. You can buy them online.
Jean Deye says
What are the bee guards? I have a feeder that says they are built in, but bees still take over.
Jean Deye says
Comment above
Connie says
Don’t use any oil based products, in, or around, any bird feeders. Oil may get on the birds feathers and hinder their flying ability.
Rudy says
Any help on keeping bees away?
David Colton says
Use First Nature 3055 32 oz. Hummingbird feeders from Amazon. Nectar level in bottom saucer is low enough so that bees can’t feed from it. See comment above for other advantages of this feeder. I don’t own stock in the company! 🙂
Bonnie says
A feeder with no yellow on it like the HummZinger feeder will not attract the bees and wasps. Also the saucer feeders like the HummZingers will not allow the bees and wasps to feed. My hummingbird has not been bothered by any bees or wasps all summer, She is a happy hummer.
Mike Homan says
This article was in the July 2017 Birds & Blooms magazine. My question is: if bees are attracted to yellow, why do most hummingbird feeders have yellow bee guards? (As on the photo above and on the photo in the noted issue.)
KELLY says
We use bread dipping bowls or you can use a small saucer, fill it with the sugar-water and the bees have their own food source. I also put a small rock in the middle of sugar dish so the bees have something to climb on. The bees will leave the feeders & hummers alone as long as they have their own food. You will see how much the bees drink that sugar-water! I have to fill them up 2 to 3 times a day. I have the dishes right under the feeder so once the bees know where their food source is they will keep going back to it. So we have fun watching the hummers and watching the bees in our backyard.
Margaret Shields says
I painted with Non Toxic Paint over the yellow flowers on the feeder and made them red, No more bees, seriously this has worked for months. No bees, ants or wasps and believe me I had tons of them before.
Mike Homan says
Thanks for the suggestion Margaret. I find it interesting though, that the author of the article nor anyone from B&B have responded to any of these messages. I’m new to posting things like this so maybe that’s the norm. We have subscribed to the magazine for several years so I am somewhat surprised.
Margaret Shields says
I painted the feeders yellow flowers with non toxic paint and made them bright pink red and no more bees or wasps or ants this truly has worked for months on end
Judy says
Rub peppermint extract around the portals and you won’t have a bee problem. I haven’t had a problem with bees since I started doing it. It has to be extract though.
Beth says
I have the saucer-type feeder with the nectar in the bottom. However, bees constantly fly around the feeder and even try to get into the tiny holes for the bird. Alas, when there are a lot of bees, they scare the bird away!
Any suggestions? I moved it once and the bees found it within minutes.
Nancy Lach says
Please, DON’T hang birdfeeders with fishing line! It is too easy for birds to get caught up in it and die! I have seen it too many times.
christine gray says
Remove the hummingbird feeder (only temporary) and several feet away hang a yellow jacket trap. They are only about $6 at any store selling pest supplies.You just add water and hang – the yellow jackets/wasps are attracted to the yellow packaging and the attractant inside. When you no longer see the yellow jackets/wasps, usually only about 24-48 hours, then you can re-hang the hummingbird feeder. I just hung the wasp trap within the last hour and already have the wasps at the trap. When the problem is resolved you can just dispose of the trap.
Jeanie says
My feeder is suction cupped to my kitchen window for close viewing. This time of yr. the yellow jackets constantly feed on it. The birds migrating thru can only barely land to feed. I finally sprayed the feeder w/garden hose when I saw them land several times. I think it is just a temp. resolution but it worked. I know yellow jackets r part of the pollination process but I am seriously thinking of getting a trap as mentioned above.