Hummingbirds are a joy to watch as they flutter around from flower to flower sipping nectar. To attract them to your yard, many people use hummingbird feeders filled with sugar water. However, these feeders often attract unwanted visitors as well, like bees and ants. Keeping bees and ants away from your hummingbird feeders allows the hummingbirds to feed in peace and prevents messy unwanted insect accumulations. But with so many hummingbird feeder styles and designs available, how do you choose one that keeps bees and ants at bay?
Do bees and ants cause problems at hummingbird feeders?
Yes, both bees and ants can be problematic at hummingbird feeders. Here’s why:
- Bees are strongly attracted to the sugar water in hummingbird feeders. Large numbers of bees at feeders can intimidate hummingbirds and even completely deter them from feeding.
- Ants are opportunistic feeders and will take advantage of any easy food source. They swarm hummingbird feeders and can quickly cover them, again preventing hummingbird feeding.
- Dripping and leaking sugar water from hummingbird feeders covered in bees or ants becomes very sticky and messy.
- Bees and ants will crawl inside the feeder to reach remaining sugar water, and their corpses can contaminate the nectar.
- Ant and bee stings are also a potential risk around hummingbird feeders.
For these reasons, keeping bees and ants away leads to a much better hummingbird feeding experience.
Tips for deterring bees and ants at hummingbird feeders
Here are some general tips that can help deter bees and ants at your hummingbird feeder:
- Use only pure white sugar or mixes made specifically for hummingbird food. Avoid honey, brown sugar, or anything with additives.
- Change the sugar water every 2-3 days, or daily in hot weather. Old nectar ferments and attracts more insects.
- Clean your feeders thoroughly each time you refill them. Wash with hot water and scrub off any insect residue.
- Position feeders in shady locations out of direct sun, which speeds up spoilage.
- Don’t spill sugar water on the ground when refilling feeders. Spills attract ants.
- Consider using a nectar guard or bee guard to block bee and ant access.
- Use a water moat or slippery vaseline on wires or hangers to deter crawling insects.
However, even with these precautions, bees and ants may still find a way. So choosing a hummingbird feeder designed specifically to deter bees and ants is your best bet for stopping them.
Popular styles of hummingbird feeders
There are four main styles of hummingbird feeders to consider:
Saucer-style
Saucer-style feeders are shallow, flat, and open. The nectar is exposed without any decorative coverings. The benefit is they are easy to clean and refill. But the open design does nothing to deter bees or ants.
Tube/Bottle-style
Tube or bottle feeders have feeding ports accessed by inserting the bill into a small hole. The enclosed structure helps block crawling insects. But it also has many crevices for insects to get trapped. Bottle brushes are needed for proper cleaning.
Funnel-style
Funnel feeders have feeding ports with a protruding funnel structure and wide base. This allows access for hummingbird bills while keeping crawling insects away. Funnel feeders are easy to fill and clean.
Inverted bottle/reservoir style
These feeders have an inverted bottle or reservoir to hold the nectar. They have exposed feeding ports where the birds access the nectar. Their enclosed nectar storage helps limit insect access. But ants could still reach feeding ports.
Tips for choosing a hummingbird feeder that deters bees and ants
When selecting a hummingbird feeder, keep these tips in mind:
- Look for feeders with a tightly sealing nectar reservoir or chamber.
- Choose feeders with built-in ant moats or guards to block crawling insects.
- Avoid feeders with small crevices or spaces that insects can get trapped in.
- Select feeders with smooth, slick plastic rather than textured surfaces.
- Funnel-style feeders are a great choice for deterring bees and ants.
- If using a reservoir-style feeder, choose one with covered feeding ports.
- Pick feeders that are easy to completely disassemble for thorough cleaning.
Top-rated hummingbird feeders for deterring bees and ants
Based on the criteria above, here are some top-rated hummingbird feeders specifically designed to keep bees and ants away:
| Feeder | Style | Deters Bees and Ants |
|---|---|---|
| Aspects HummZinger Excel | Funnel | Nectar moat, smooth surfaced ports, leak-proof sealed chamber |
| Perky-Pet Glass Feeder | Inverted bottle | Sealed nectar chamber, slippery glass, feeder ports have bee guards |
| HandGLASS Etched Glass Feeder | Saucer | Slippery glass surface, detachable ant moat, flat design limits bee interest |
| Nature’s Way Cedar Feeder | Bottle | Wood construction, minimal dripping, handcrafted covered feeding ports |
Based on features to limit bee and ant access, the Aspects HummZinger Excel is likely the best overall choice. Its funnel-style feeding ports, leak-proof chamber, and ant moat give it an advantage over other styles.
Conclusion
To fully enjoy watching hummingbirds without the nuisance of bees and ants, choose a specialized hummingbird feeder designed to deter crawling insects. Key features like ant moats, sealed nectar chambers, smooth plastic construction, and covered feeding ports make a big difference. Funnel-style feeders tend to be very effective, but inverted bottle and well-made saucer feeders can also work well. Place your feeder in a shady spot, change the nectar regularly, and clean the feeder thoroughly for added insect prevention. With the right hummingbird feeder, you can relax and delight in the aerial antics of hummingbirds feeding to their heart’s content.
