Understanding the Difference: Friend vs. Foe

Before addressing the issue, it's crucial to identify what you're actually dealing with. When people say they have "bees" on their hummingbird feeders, they usually mean that they have an invading army of wasps, hornets or yellow jackets. These insects are a real nuisance at feeders. Unlike bees, these creatures aren't known for helping to pollinate plants in a significant manner. They can also be aggressive toward hummingbirds — and humans, too.

True Honeybees:

• Hairy, brownish or golden bodies with colors that are not as bright as those of wasps or hornets
• Lose their stinger when they sting and die as a result
• Rarely aggressive when compared to wasps, hornets and yellow jackets
• Essential pollinators experiencing population decline

Wasps, Yellow Jackets & Hornets:

• Skinny bodies with narrow waists and mostly hairless bodies
• Can sting multiple times
• More aggressive by nature and attracted to food scraps
• May require wasp traps if they become problematic

The Root Cause: Why Cleanliness Matters Most

The primary reason bees and other insects are attracted to hummingbird feeders is often related to cleanliness. If your feeding ports or any other element of the nectar feeder are not perfectly air-tight, you're almost certainly going to be dealing with some level of leakage. Dripping sugary nectar is an open invitation to bees.

Essential Cleaning Protocol

Weekly Maintenance Schedule:

• In hot weather, the feeder should be emptied and cleaned every day or every other day. In temperate weather, every three days. In cooler weather, twice per week is enough.
• Disassemble your feeder as much as you can. Many newer model hummingbird feeders can be completely taken apart, even the feeding ports and bee guards can be removed.
• Use hot water and avoid soap, which can leave harmful residue. A vinegar solution (1 part vinegar to 2 parts water) works well for thorough cleaning.

Critical Cleaning Steps:

1. Every time you refill, clean the outside of feeders too, specifically getting off any excess sugar build-up around the feeding ports. All of this sugar on the outside attracts bees!
2. Each time you refill the feeders, wipe any drips with a damp cloth and make sure the feeder is not leaking.
3. Allow all pieces to air dry completely before reassembling

8 Proven Strategies to Deter Bees Safely

1. Choose the Right Feeder Design

Dish feeders are superior to bottle-style feeders because the nectar sits well below the feeding ports, and this distance becomes greater as more sugar water is consumed. Hummingbirds have no problem reaching the food because they have a long tongue they use to drink. Wasps and hornets, on the other hand, do not have a tongue they can use to slurp up nectar.

2. Eliminate Yellow Components

While hummingbirds are attracted to red, bees flock to yellow. Avoid nectar feeders that feature yellow inserts or decorative accents. You can paint over yellow parts with outdoor-safe, non-toxic paint.

3. Install Nectar Guards (Bee Guards)

Nectar guard tips keep bees, wasps and yellow jackets away from hummingbird feeders, but hummingbirds can still get to the nectar. A guard increases the distance from the waffle-like guard to the nectar. Since a hummingbird has both a long tongue and bill, it can stick its bill through one of the holes in the guard and easily drink the sugar water. Bees cannot reach the sugary liquid because they have short "tongues."

4. Strategic Placement

Place feeders in shade. Bees forage in full sun and are less likely to visit a shady spot. Shade offers the extra benefit of keeping syrup cooler to last longer and discouraging mold and bacterial growth.

5. The Movement Strategy

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. You'll have best results if you can move it 25 feet and on the other side of a tree.

6. Temporary Removal Technique

If you take your hummingbird feeder down for even a day, honeybees won't wait around for it to reappear. They'll head off in search of nectar sources readily available. Chances are you'll be able to return your feeder to its original spot after a day or two.

7. Create Alternative Feeding Stations

Create a bee-friendly corner of your yard with shallow dishes of sugar water placed at least 10 feet away from hummingbird feeders. Use a lower concentration of sugar in the decoy feeder—bees prefer less concentrated nectar than hummingbirds. Put the sugary mix in a shallow dish so the bees don't drown.

8. Plant Strategic Gardens

Give the bees an attractive alternative. Pollinators will flock to nectar-rich flowers in containers and the garden. Try colorful annuals like fuchsia, nicotiana and nasturtiums, and perennials like trumpet vine, bee balm and cardinal flower.

When Wasps Are the Real Problem: Safe Trapping Solutions

If you're dealing with aggressive wasps or yellow jackets (not beneficial honeybees), you can set up a wasp trap to focus their attention away from the feeder. A trap can be made by cutting four 1-inch holes equidistant apart about halfway up the side of a plastic 2-liter soft drink bottle. Fill the bottom with sugar water to about 2 inches depth, add a few drops of liquid soap, and hang near feeders.

Important: Don't use a trap if honeybees are congregating around your feeders. The last thing you want to do is destroy these valuable insects.

Natural Deterrents That Work

Essential Oil Method

Wasps and bees cannot tolerate peppermint smell. After cleaning feeders, dab a little essence of peppermint around (not on) each feeding opening. Doesn't bother hummingbirds, and you won't be bothered with wasps or bees again.

Citrus Solution

Use a mixture of lemon juice and water and spray the outside of feeders after filling them. Bees don't like citrus but hummingbirds don't mind it.

What NOT to Do: Protecting Both Species

Never use insecticides, petroleum jelly, cooking oil, or sticky traps around feeders. These can harm or kill hummingbirds and other wildlife. Do not spray a hummingbird feeder with insecticide. The insecticide or repellent could accidentally mix with the nectar over time, which could harm your hummingbirds' health.

Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Ecosystem

The ultimate solution is creating a balanced environment that serves both hummingbirds and bees:

Hummingbird Plants (Red/Orange Flowers):

• Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
• Scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma)
• Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
• Salvias (especially late-season varieties)

Bee-Friendly Plants (Yellow/Blue Flowers):

• Yarrow, Coreopsis, Rudbeckia
• Native sunflowers and asters
• Native wildflowers that bloom spring through fall

Recommended Products for Success

For optimal results, consider investing in:

• Saucer-style feeders with built-in bee guards
• Red-colored feeders without yellow accents
• Ant moats to prevent crawling insects
• Easy-clean designs that disassemble completely

The Bottom Line

While it's easy to agree that wasps, hornets and yellow jackets are not good to have at a hummingbird feeder, the same can't be said for bees. These insects truly benefit the ecosystem and serve as pollinators to flowers, trees and vegetables. The honey bee population is experiencing such a massive decline that scientists are extremely worried about their long-term survival.

By maintaining clean feeders, high-quality nectar, choosing appropriate designs, and creating alternative food sources, you can successfully attract hummingbirds while protecting essential pollinators. The goal isn't to eliminate bees—it's to create a harmonious backyard ecosystem where all creatures can thrive.

Remember: You can deter insects while remembering they're part of nature, too. With patience and the right approach, your backyard can become a haven for hummingbirds without harming the bees we all depend on.