Bees can be a nuisance around hummingbird feeders, competing with hummingbirds for the sugar water and even scaring them away. While pesticides and other chemicals may seem an easy solution, they can harm hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial insects. Thankfully, there are many natural ways to deter bees and keep them from overwhelming your hummingbird feeders. With some clever tricks and creative solutions, you can peacefully enjoy both hummingbirds and bees in your yard.
Why Bees Are Attracted to Hummingbird Feeders
Bees, especially honey bees, are attracted to the sweet nectar in hummingbird feeders. They can detect sugary solutions from long distances and will zero in on the easy calories.
Some key reasons bees swarm hummingbird feeders include:
- Sugary solution – The 1:4 ratio of sugar to water is like candy for bees. The sweet syrup is an excellent energy source.
- Bright colors – Red or yellow feeders visually signal bees there is food. Hummingbirds also prefer bold colors.
- Flower shape – The narrow openings mimic flower blossoms, enticing bees to investigate.
- Flavorings – Added flavorings like fruit or cinnamon further attract bees.
- Abundant food source – One feeder can supply food for many bees at once.
While frustrating, bees are just following their natural instinct for high-calorie food sources. Understanding why they swarm feeders helps us find solutions.
Drawbacks of Bees at Hummingbird Feeders
Allowing bees free rein around your feeders can create several problems:
- Less food for hummingbirds – Bees gorge on the nectar, leaving less for hummers.
- Scared hummingbirds – Some birds may be frightened off by dozens of buzzing bees.
- Feeders empty faster – With bees drinking the nectar, you’ll refill feeders much more often.
- Bee stings – Aggressive bees defending the feeder could sting curious hummingbirds or people.
- Dirty nectar – Bees transfer pollen and diseases into the nectar.
- Damaged feeders – Bees sometimes chew plastic and rubber feeder parts to enlarge holes.
Keeping bees away protects your hummingbirds and lets them feed in peace. The next sections share natural tips to discourage bees.
Use Bee-Repelling Essential Oils
Essential oils are a gentle yet powerful way to deter bees from hummingbird feeders. Their strong scents overwhelm the sweet nectar smell, masking it from bees. Oils also replicate flower scents, tricking bees into thinking a plant is nearby.
Some effective options include:
- Peppermint oil – This strong minty aroma repels bees. Add a few drops into the nectar or around feeder openings.
- Citronella oil – The lemon-like smell confuses bees. Dab some citronella on feeder perches too.
- Clove oil – This spice oil is offensive to bees. Coat cotton balls and place near feeders.
- Eucalyptus oil – The medicinal camphor scent drives away bees. Mix in or dot feeder flowers.
- Lavender oil – Used dry, the perfume overwhelms bee senses. Sprinkle on and around feeders.
- Tea tree oil – The intense medicinal odor masks sugary scents. Apply around feeder ports.
Test small amounts first to ensure oils won’t harm your feeders. Reapply oils after rain or as scents fade. Other bee-repelling options like extracts and herbs also contain helpful essential oils.
Add Extracts and Herbs
Extracts and herbs containing potent essential oils naturally repel bees from feeders. Try adding these easy bee-deterring flavors:
- Almond extract – The distinctive almond aroma confuses bees. Mix some into the nectar.
- Lemon extract – Citrusy lemon masks sweet scents. Coat perches and feeder holes.
- Mint extract – The brisk mint smell repels bees. Stir into sugar nectar before filling.
- Vanilla extract – Bees dislike the heavy vanilla fragrance. Add to nectar or dab on flowers.
- Basil – The strong herbal odor repels bees. Place basil leaves around feeders.
- Lemon thyme – Both lemon and thyme drive away bees. Rub leaves on feeder perches.
- Mint – Crush fresh mint leaves and sprinkle near feeders to deter bees.
- Lavender – Dry lavender buds around feeders mimic essential oils.
Start with small amounts and add more until bees avoid your feeders. Replenish fading scents as needed to keep bees at bay.
Alter Feeder Designs
Sometimes the best way to stop bees is by tweaking your feeder design and setup. Clever adaptations make it much harder for bees to access the sugary nectar.
Use feeders with short, narrow ports – Port holes sized for hummingbird tongues keep bees out. Avoid open-top or wide-mouth feeders.
Raise feeders higher – Bees fly and forage closer to the ground. Hanging feeders 5-10 feet high allows hummers to feed undisturbed.
Add mesh barriers – Cover feeder holes with plastic mesh or screen to exclude bees. Hummers can easily poke through the holes.
Suspend feeders away from vegetation – Bees patrol flowering plants for nectar. Situate feeders in open areas away from bushes and trees.
Reduce number of feeders – One or two feeders forces hummingbirds to defend the nectar from bees. More feeders spread birds out, allowing bees room to access.
Use moats or trays of water – These barriers prevent bees from walking across to flowers or feeder openings.
Try gravity-style feeders – Nectar only flows with hummingbird weight. Bees can’t steal drips without tipping the feeder.
With a little innovation, you can design hummingbird feeding areas that welcome birds but exclude nuisance bees.
Apply Bee Repellent Sprays
Spraying natural bee repellents directly onto feeders creates an annoying barrier bees try to avoid. Always spot test first to ensure the spray won’t damage your feeder’s finish.
Some easy natural repellents include:
- Vinegar and water – This 1:1 solution mimics acid in unripe fruit. Spray feeders and reapply after rain.
- Vodka spray – The alcohol evaporates but leaves an odor bees dislike. Mist around feeder flowers.
- Garlic spray – Blend garlic, soap and water for an irritating bee repellent.
- Hot sauce spray – A combination of vinegar and cayenne pepper sauce drives away bees. Coat feeder perches.
- Citrus spray – Boil citrus peels in water and strain to make an antimicrobial spray. Spritz on flowers.
- Eucalyptus spray – Steep leaves in water for an oil that repels bees when sprayed.
- Peppermint spray – Infuse mint leaves in hot water and cool before spraying feeders.
Natural sprays discourage bees without using harsh chemicals. Reapply frequently to maintain effectiveness.
Use Diversionary Plantings
One of the most effective long-term methods is establishing bee-friendly plantings away from your hummingbird feeding area. Provide an alternative nectar source to draw bees away naturally.
Plant native flowers – Choose a variety of flowers bees love, like lavender, sunflowers, clover and wild geraniums. Group together for maximum appeal.
Add fruit trees – Fruit tree blossoms provide bees with billions of flower blossoms loaded with nectar and pollen.
Include herbs – Basil, thyme, chives, oregano, mint and other herbs entice bees with their flowers. Plant mini-herb gardens around your yard.
Let dandelions bloom – Dandelions are an early spring source of food for emerging bees. Tolerate some weeds near the edges of your yard.
Create nesting areas – Leave dead snags, build mason bee houses, and include bee-friendly landscaping to give them a place to live.
By making other areas of your yard attractive to bees, you can draw them away naturally so your hummingbird feeders are less appealing.
Use Alternative Hummingbird Food Sources
Reducing dependence on feeders makes them less of a target for bees. Try these methods to naturally feed hummers:
Plant more hummingbird flowers – Native plants like bee balm, columbine, trumpet honeysuckle and others provide nectar.
Hang fruit halves – Spear citrus halves or banana chunks on branches or shepherd hooks near windows.
Offer fruit puree – Thicken mashed berries, melon, or other fruit with cornstarch in tiny cups. Refrigerate to keep fresh.
Infuse sugar scrub – Boil 1 part sugar in 2 parts water, cool, and infuse with edible flowers. Fill tiny cups and hang.
Provide drippers – Attach a large feeder above a small one to drip nectar into the lower unit, guarded from bees.
Supplementing feeders with flowers and natural foods gives hummingbirds alternate food options, making your feeders less vital. The more choices hummers have, the less they’ll have to compete with bees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep bees from stinging my hummingbirds?
- Hang feeders well away from vegetation bees patrol.
- Use feeders with built-in yellow jackets traps to prevent stinging insects.
- Apply repellent essential oils around feeder holes to deter bees.
- Keep feeders extremely clean to minimize spread of diseases.
What time of day are bees most active at feeders?
- Bees forage most actively in warm daylight hours, especially mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
- Feeders see the most bee activity on warmer, sunny days.
- Minimal bees will visit in cooler weather or overnight.
What plants attract bees and hummingbirds at the same time?
- Salvias, lilies, petunias, verbena, phlox, sage, and trumpet vines attract both bees and hummingbirds.
- Plant clumps of the same flowers to reduce competition between species.
Can bees and hummingbirds share the same feeder?
- It’s best to deter bees away rather than making them share.
- Bees can quickly overwhelm a feeder, intimidating hummingbirds.
- Close feeder ports reduce bee access but make it hard for hummers to feed.
Why shouldn’t I use pesticides to get rid of bees?
- Pesticide residues wash into nectar where birds and bees ingest them.
- Chemicals intended for nuisance bees also kill pollinators like bumblebees.
- Natural repellents and deterrents are safer for all pollinators.
How often should I change nectar if bees are visiting my feeders?
- With heavy bee traffic, nectar can ferment in 1-2 days during warm weather.
- Check nectar daily for cloudiness and a sour smell, indicators it has spoiled.
- Change nectar every 2-3 days if bees are frequent feeder visitors.
Conclusion
Bees and hummingbirds don’t have to be mutually exclusive in your yard. With some clever tricks like essential oils, strategic feeder designs, and diversionary plantings, you can have both. Deterring bees naturally keeps them from hogging feeders while still supporting these important pollinators elsewhere in your garden. Finding the right balance allows peaceful enjoyment of hummingbirds coming to your feeders without constant battles with bees. Test different methods and see which combination works best to minimize bees so your hummingbirds have safe access to feed and thrive.
So in summary, here are the top natural tips for keeping bees away from your hummingbird feeders:
- Use essential oils like peppermint, clove, and citronella
- Add bee-repelling extracts and herbs to the nectar
- Tweak feeder designs to exclude bees
- Spray feeders with natural repellents like garlic spray
- Plant flowers, herbs, and trees to divert bees in other areas
- Offer supplemental foods hummingbirds like fruit and nectar plants
- Change nectar frequently to prevent spoilage
Deterring bees takes some experimentation to discover the best solutions for your yard. But with persistence and thoughtful care for both pollinators, you can achieve the ideal balance of welcoming hummingbirds while keeping pesky bees at bay.