Ask A Scientist General Science Archive

name        Stephen
status       other
age          50s

Question -   Honey bees have taken over our hummingbird feeders.  We
have a couple hundred wild hummers and go through 4 to 5 gallons of sugar
water a day using 15 multi hole feeders.  This is the first year the bees
have discovered this windfall.  Is there any way to repel the bees
without harming the birds.  We have been vacuuming up the bees but they
keep coming.  My wife likes feeding the hummers, but if we can't get rid
of the bees she will have to surrender.
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Stephen -

Are you sure you have honey bees.  It is possible you do, but at this time
of the year it is more likely that you have attracted yellow jackets.  I
keep honey bees within a hundred yards of my hummingbird feeders and seldom
see bees at the feeder.

The difference between the two is in how aggressive they are.  Honey bees
are docile and present only a minimal sting hazard.  Yellow jackets are
quite prone to stinging and will even chase the hummingbirds away.  If it
were my feeder, I would ignore honey bees and take action against yellow
jackets.

The best action would be to place a screen over the feeder nozzle.  Bees and
yellow jackets both have a rather short proboscis (drinking straw) while the
hummingbird can reach in a great distance.  Some hummingbirds feeders come
with these already attached.

Larry Krengel
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