Hummingbird feeders are a common sight in many backyards and gardens, especially in the warmer months when hummingbirds are active. These feeders are designed to provide nectar for hummingbirds, but other animals are sometimes attracted to the sweet liquid as well. One creature that may come calling is the honey bee. So can honey bees drink from hummingbird feeders?
The Anatomy of Honey Bees
Honey bees have specialized mouthparts that allow them to drink up nectar. Their long, straw-like tongue, called a proboscis, lets them reach into flowers and lap up liquid. When not in use, the proboscis folds under the bee’s head.
Bees also have mandibles near their proboscis that they use to bite and manipulate objects. However, they do not use their mandibles to consume food. The mandibles contain tactile hairs that help bees gauge whether an opening is wide enough for their proboscis to fit.
The Design of Hummingbird Feeders
Many hummingbird feeders today are made of plastic or glass and consist of a reservoir base and feeding ports, with a cover to help keep nectar clean. The feeding ports allow hummingbirds to easily insert their long beaks and drink the nectar.
Two common feeder designs are:
Tube Feeders
Tube feeders have several short, narrow tubes extending out from the base reservoir. Hummingbirds access the nectar through these small ports.
Saucer Feeders
Saucer feeders are wide, shallow dishes with nectar in the middle and perches around the edges. Hummingbirds sit on the perches and dip their beaks into the center to feed.
Can Honey Bees Reach the Nectar?
Whether honey bees can get nectar from a hummingbird feeder depends largely on the feeder’s design.
In tubular feeders, the ports are generally too narrow for a honey bee to insert its proboscis into. And while bees may try to use their mandibles to widen an opening, the plastic or glass tubes don’t give much leeway.
Saucer feeders allow for easier access, as honey bees can land on the edges and dip their proboscis directly into the flat nectar. The nectar sits out openly, unlike the protected ports of a tube feeder.
However, on both styles the feeder’s cover helps limit bees. The cover restricts their access to the open nectar.
Do Bees Like the Artificial Nectar?
Even if they can physically access the liquid, honey bees may not be interested in the artificial nectar in hummingbird feeders.
The nectar hummingbirds feed on is essentially colored sugar water. A typical recipe is:
– 1 part white granulated sugar
– 4 parts water
The sugar is a carbohydrate source for energy. But this is a very simple and artificial substance compared to the complex chemistry of real flower nectar.
Complexities of Flower Nectar
Natural flower nectar contains the following:
– Sugars such as sucrose, fructose, glucose – Provides energy
– Amino acids – Building blocks of protein
– Vitamins and minerals – Nutrition
– Phytochemicals – Plant chemicals with health effects
– Enzymes – Aid in chemical reactions
– Proteins – Provide nitrogen
The composition varies by flower species and can be adapted to appeal to certain pollinators. Nectar aimed at attracting hummingbirds may have a higher sugar content.
Lack of Micronutrients
While hummingbird feeder nectar provides carbohydrates, it lacks many of the micronutrients in real flower nectar. And it does not have the complex mix of sugars that bees may prefer.
So it is not an ideal food source for honey bees from a nutritional standpoint. They tend to seek out higher quality nutrition from flowers.
Risks of Honey Bees Visiting Hummingbird Feeders
While hummingbird feeders don’t provide an ideal meal for honey bees, they may still recruit to them if easier sources run low. This can create problems:
Competition with Hummingbirds
Honey bees at the feeder can scare away hummingbirds, preventing them from feeding. The birds avoid spots where bees congregate.
Spread of Disease
When bees from different hives crowd together at a feeder, it allows bee diseases to spread more readily between colonies.
Ant and Wasp Problems
Feeders with bee activity can also attract other unwanted insects like ants and wasps. The feeder’s sugar water is not only enticing to hummingbirds.
Bee Aggression
Bees around a feeder may act aggressively, stinging hummingbirds or people that get too close. They perceive a threat to their feed source.
Discouraging Bees from Feeders
If bees become a problem at your hummingbird feeder, here are some tips:
Use Feeders with Bee Guards
Some feeders have integrated bee guards that let hummingbirds access the nectar while restricting bees. Look for feeders advertised as having this feature.
position feeders out of bee flight paths.
Bees travel in straight lines from their hive to flower patches. Place the feeder well out of their flight pathways.
Clean feeders regularly
Change nectar every few days before it gets old or fermented. Bees are less attracted to clean nectar.
Use red dye in the nectar
Red dye makes the liquid less visible to bees but still attractive to hummingbirds. Just don’t overdo the dye amount.
Try different nectar mixes
Some bee-deterrent recipes use other sweeteners like agave nectar or add citric acid. The altered taste may turn away some bees.
Supplement feeders with bee-friendly plants
Put out other flowering plants to distract and divert bees away from the hummingbird feeders.
Conclusion
Honey bees can potentially access the artificial nectar in hummingbird feeders, especially flat, open designs. However, the sugar water lacks the complex nutrition bees normally get from flowers. And excessive bee presence at feeders can create problems for hummingbirds. Using feeders designed to exclude bees, keeping them clean, and strategically placing them away from hives can help prevent issues. Supplementing the yard with bee-friendly flowers gives the bees alternative nectar sources. With a little effort, you can provide for both the hummingbirds and the valuable pollinating bees.
