Hummingbird Market
Active member
Hummingbird feeders come in many configurations. Some are very good at preventing bees and some would be better called " bee feeders. However, remember that bees and wasps share and compete for nectar at flowers and feeders yet both seem to survive.
Bees, especially yellow jackets, wasps and honeybees, will mob a feeder and fight off hummingbirds who come to drink nectar. Bees are difficult to deter with a moat because they fly. It is best to make sure that nectar does not leak or splash-out to where they can eat it. Tube feeders hanging down are especially the worst offenders. Nectar is pushed out as the air trapped in top of the feeder expands and contracts with changes in the air temperature. Bees love drips. Other feeders might not drip in this manner, but may allow the nectar to splash out if the feeder is blown by the wind. Several versions of Aspects hummingbird feeders prevent these problems.
Even with bee proof feeders a little extra care is needed as when hummingbirds eat they lap, not suck up the nectar. This lapping causes a small amount of nectar to end up on the surface of the feeder near the feeder ports which the bees will quickly find. When you see bees on a bee proof feeder, simply wipe the surface with a wet sponge and your bees will leave. When hanging with fresh nectar, clean off any sugary drips or spills on the outside of the feeder so bees won’t be attracted to the sugary residue.
Bee Memory
Bees take approximately three (3) days to memorize and share the path between food source and the bee hive. By moving the feeder to a new location (not too close to its original spot), bees have a hard time finding it again. Some people even go further and say you should move your feeder every other day, so bees won't have time enough to memorize the feeder location. It's more of a temporary action than a solution.
Aspects and Droll feeders share the patent for nectar guard tips. Nectar guard tips make the feeder totally insect proof.
Douglas
Hummingbird Market
Tucson, Arizona
Bees, especially yellow jackets, wasps and honeybees, will mob a feeder and fight off hummingbirds who come to drink nectar. Bees are difficult to deter with a moat because they fly. It is best to make sure that nectar does not leak or splash-out to where they can eat it. Tube feeders hanging down are especially the worst offenders. Nectar is pushed out as the air trapped in top of the feeder expands and contracts with changes in the air temperature. Bees love drips. Other feeders might not drip in this manner, but may allow the nectar to splash out if the feeder is blown by the wind. Several versions of Aspects hummingbird feeders prevent these problems.
Even with bee proof feeders a little extra care is needed as when hummingbirds eat they lap, not suck up the nectar. This lapping causes a small amount of nectar to end up on the surface of the feeder near the feeder ports which the bees will quickly find. When you see bees on a bee proof feeder, simply wipe the surface with a wet sponge and your bees will leave. When hanging with fresh nectar, clean off any sugary drips or spills on the outside of the feeder so bees won’t be attracted to the sugary residue.
Bee Memory
Bees take approximately three (3) days to memorize and share the path between food source and the bee hive. By moving the feeder to a new location (not too close to its original spot), bees have a hard time finding it again. Some people even go further and say you should move your feeder every other day, so bees won't have time enough to memorize the feeder location. It's more of a temporary action than a solution.
Aspects and Droll feeders share the patent for nectar guard tips. Nectar guard tips make the feeder totally insect proof.
Douglas
Hummingbird Market
Tucson, Arizona
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