When it comes to hummingbird feeders, one of the biggest problems homeowners face is bees.
Bees are attracted to the sweet nectar in hummingbird feeders, and often crowd out the hummingbirds. This can be frustrating for homeowners who simply want to enjoy watching hummingbirds, not bees.
The good news is that there are things you can do to deter bees from your hummingbird feeders. With a few simple tricks, you can have a bee-free space for hummingbirds to enjoy.
Why Bees Are Attracted to Hummingbird Feeders
To understand how to deter bees, it helps to know why they are attracted to hummingbird feeders in the first place. There are a few key reasons bees go for hummingbird nectar:
– The sugar content – Hummingbird nectar is comprised of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. This makes it very sweet and irresistible to bees, who have a strong sense of smell and are always on the hunt for sugary substances.
– The color red – Many hummingbird feeders are red, which attracts bees. Bees cannot see the color red, and often mistake red objects for flowers.
– The scent – In addition to being sweet, store-bought nectar has an appealing scent for bees. They can detect the smell from far away.
– An easy food source – Hummingbird feeders provide bees with an abundant, reliable source of energy. They will return to a feeder again and again once they find it.
Knowing what draws bees to the feeders allows us to find solutions to make the nectar less appealing to them.
Tips to Deter Bees
Luckily, there are some simple adjustments you can make to deter bees from your hummingbird feeders. Here are some of the most effective tips:
Use bee-proof feeders
There are specialized “bee-proof” hummingbird feeders on the market that have built-in mechanisms to deter bees. Some feature small yellow “bee guards” with slits too narrow for bees to access. Others have little moats around the feeding ports that prevent bees from reaching the nectar. Bee-proof feeders are your best bet if you want to virtually eliminate bees.
Choose feeder color carefully
As mentioned earlier, the color red strongly attracts bees who mistake it for a flower. Avoid red feeders, and opt for other colors like yellow, orange, blue, or green. Neutral colors like beige, black, and brown are also less likely to draw bees. Just steer clear of red!
Use a feeder with short perches
Hummingbirds can feed with their long beaks from short perches, while bees need to land on longer perches to reach the nectar. Look for a feeder with 1/2 inch perches or shorter. This allows hummers access while deterring bees.
Try a saucer-style feeder
Saucer-style feeders, also called dish feeders, have shallow reservoirs of nectar without perches. Hummingbirds sip straight from the surface while bees have a harder time getting to the nectar. Gravity helps keep them away.
Use a feeder moat
As mentioned earlier, some feeders have built-in moats or reservoirs of water surrounding the nectar port. Bees don’t like landing on water, so the moat acts as a barrier. Look for a hummingbird feeder with a removable moat you can fill when needed.
Add cinnamon
Bees dislike the smell of cinnamon. Add a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to the nectar to help repel them. Just be sure it’s pure cinnamon without added sugar. The cinnamon smell deters bees but won’t affect hummingbird’s enjoyment.
Use a feeder wick
Wicks prevent big pools of exposed nectar which attract bees. The nectar saturates the wick and hummers sip it through the fibers. Bee-proof wicks have fine fibers that make it tough for bees to access the nectar. They have to work much harder than at traditional feeders.
Try a mesh-covered feeder
Plastic mesh covers act as a physical barrier keeping bees away while allowing hummers to insert their long beaks through the mesh holes. The mesh is often used to cover the feeding ports or the entire reservoir.
Move the feeder
Sometimes simply relocating the feeder away from bee activity can do the trick. Move it away from flowering plants, beehives, or other food sources bees frequent. Put it in an isolated spot where the bees won’t easily stumble upon it.
Use multiple feeders
Try splitting the nectar among 2-3 feeders placed far apart in your yard. Don’t cluster them too close together. When the feeding territories are separated, hummingbirds have less competition from bees at each individual feeder.
Clean regularly
Change the nectar and clean feeders thoroughly every 2-3 days. Bees are drawn back to spots they’ve eaten from before. Freshening things up keeps them from hanging around.
Avoid leaks
Drips and leaks of sugar water will attract bees, so be diligent about changing nectar before it drips down the feeder. Look for feeders designed not to leak.
Use feeders with ant moats
Ant moats are reservoirs of water that surround a feeder, preventing crawling insects from stealing nectar. Ants and bees both dislike crossing water, so an ant moat can repel bees too.
Add hot pepper powder
A tiny bit of cayenne pepper powder mixed into the nectar may help deter bees. It doesn’t affect the sweet taste for hummingbirds, but bees don’t like the spiciness. Use just 1/8 teaspoon per 2 cups of nectar.
Avoid open reservoirs
Open reservoirs allow bees to easily access large pools of nectar. Look for feeders where the feeding ports limit how much nectar is exposed. Gravity-fed reservoirs are also less accessible to bees.
Hang feeders in shady spots
Direct sun makes the nectar warmer, amplifying its sweet smell and drawing more bees. Place feeders in shaded areas to help keep bees away.
Use feeders with a nectar guard
Nectar guards are either integrated into feeders or sold as accessories. They have a grid that keeps bees from entering the nectar reservoir while allowing hummingbird beaks through.
Try a dome-style feeder
Dome-top feeders are shaped like an inverted bowl, with feeding ports accessing nectar from the protected underside of the dome. The shape keeps bees from easily landing on the reservoirs.
DIY Bee-Deterring Tricks
In addition to commercial bee-proof feeders, there are some DIY tricks you can try to make your regular feeder less bee-friendly:
Add petroleum jelly
Coat perches and other landing surfaces with plain petroleum jelly. The slippery jelly makes it hard for bees to land and get a good grip.
Use BINACA breath spray
Give landing areas a spritz of unscented BINACA spray. The aerosol disrupts bees and deters them from landing.
Coat perches with cooking spray
A light coat of cooking oil spray makes perches too slippery for bees to hang onto. Reapply after rain or as needed.
Plug holes with corks
If your feeder has extra unused feeding ports, plug them with corks so bees have fewer access points. This also prevents nectar leaks.
Add pet hair
A bit of pet hair (especially dog hair) sprinkled around flower-shaped feeding ports can keep bees at bay. The fur alarms them so they avoid landing there.
Hang CD discs near feeders
Old CDs dangling near feeders spin and reflect light, disturbing bees so they stay away. Just be sure the discs don’t impede hummingbird access.
Use plastic flowers as decoys
Random plastic flowers hot glued around the feeder look like landing spots to bees. But when they land on the fake flowers, they quickly realize their mistake and buzz off.
Placing the Feeder to Avoid Bees
In addition to modifying your hummingbird feeder itself, placement and location are also important factors for deterring bees. Here are some tips on where to hang your feeder:
Distance from flowering plants
Flower gardens naturally attract bees, so keep feeders as far away from blooms as possible. At least 5-10 feet is recommended, but farther is even better.
Hide feeders among trees/shrubs
Conceal feeders behind tree branches, shrubs, or trellises. The foliage blocks bee flight paths making the feeder harder to spot.
Elevate feeders
Hanging feeders at least 5-6 feet off the ground reduces interference from bees foraging down low. Elevated feeders also give hummers a safer perch away from predators.
Avoid placement near bee nests
Scout your yard for bee nests and hives first, like in soffits, hollow logs, trees, the ground, etc. Keep feeders as far away from nests and hives as you can.
Clear away other food debris
Don’t place feeders near compost piles, trash cans, food waste, or fallen fruit/berries that could attract bees. Eliminate competing food sources.
Sheltered overhang locations
Protected spots like under roof eaves, gazebos, and covered porches offer shade and seclusion from bees flying in open yards.
Away from outdoor eating spaces
Don’t tempt picnicking bees by placing feeders right next to patios, decks, picnic tables, etc. where food is present.
In open spacing, not clusters
When using multiple feeders, space them widely apart instead of clustering in one spot. Isolated spacing makes them less obvious targets for foraging bees.
When Bees Take Over: What to Do
Even if you take all the right precautions, sometimes bees still find a way to take over hummingbird feeders. When this happens, don’t panic. Here is what you can do to take back your feeders:
Let them have it temporarily
If the bees have swarmed a feeder, let them have their way with it for a while. After gorging on the nectar for a day or two, the bees will look for a new food source and abandon your feeder.
Move feeders away completely
As soon as bees take over a feeder, move it to a completely new distant location or temporarily take it down. The location change will disorient the bees from returning.
Take the feeder down at night
Bees rest at night. Remove the feeder after dusk when the bees have left, clean it thoroughly, then re-hang it in a new spot the next morning before bees resume activity.
Let the feeder dry out
Without fresh nectar, bees lose interest quickly. Rather than refilling, let the feeder dry up completely for a few days until bees give up.
Use a pest spray carefully
Wipe feeder down with a natural insect repelling spray made with essential oils. Apply spray to outer surfaces only while feeder is down – avoid getting any spray in the nectar.
Wash with soapy water
Disassemble feeder and wash all parts with mild dish soap and water. The soap residue helps keep bees away. Rinse before refilling with fresh nectar.
Maintain bee nests responsibly
You can landscape for bees and hummingbirds at the same time! Just keep nesting sites and food sources separate. Manage beekeeping properly so nests don’t end up too close to feeders.
Wait them out
Be patient and don’t give up. With consistent relocating, cleaning, deterrent techniques, and not refilling, bees will eventually get the hint and move on.
Avoid Bees Without Discouraging Hummingbirds
The most important thing to remember when trying to deter bees is that you don’t want to scare away hummingbirds in the process!
Only use deterrents that discourage bees but not hummingbirds. Here are some key tips:
– Don’t use harsh chemicals or insecticides. They can harm hummingbirds or sicken them.
– Only apply deterrents to outside surfaces of feeders, not actual nectar.
– Avoid irritants like vinegar, ammonia, bleach, or rubbing alcohol which can also discourage hummingbirds.
– Carefully follow dosage directions on any deterrent additives like hot pepper or cinnamon.
– Don’t cover feeder openings with netting that could trap or ensnare hummingbirds.
– If relocating a bee-infested feeder, always provide a replacement nectar source so hummingbirds still have access.
– Periodically clean deterrent substances off feeders so hummingbirds don’t avoid them.
With some thoughtful adjustments, you can achieve an ideal bee-free, hummingbird-friendly feeder! Just be patient as you tweak different techniques and find the right balance.
Common Hummingbird Feeder Designs
Choosing a well-designed feeder is one of the best ways to prevent issues with bees in the first place.
Different feeder models have features that naturally help exclude bees. Knowing the pros and cons of common feeder designs will help you pick the most bee-resistant option.
Saucer Style
Saucer-shaped feeders have an open reservoir in a shallow dish design. Nectar is accessible from above with less chance for bees to drowned. But saucers may leak, and don’t limit nectar access.
Funnel Style
Funnels have covered reservoirs, with nectar flowing into open ports. Bees can still access nectar at the ports. Models with bee guards or mesh coverings help make funnels more bee-proof.
Bottle Style
Bottle feeders use glass or plastic vessels with feeding ports drilled in the sides. Removing the vessel helps reduce dripping. The right bottle style can exclude bees, but designs vary.
Inverted Top Style
Inverted top feeders have a covered reservoir with ports accessed from below. The underside access makes it hard for bees to walk on and drink from. Dome shapes further disorient bees.
Tray Style
Trays have chambers around the sides rather than a central reservoir. Bees have a harder time locating and landing on the nectar sources. Specialized trays add moats or mesh.
Tower Style
Tower feeders feature stacked components for multiple feeding ports accessed vertically. Tower orientation requires bees to hover instead of land. Tower height makes a difference.
