Bees and hummingbirds are important garden pollinators attracted to the nectar in flowers and the sugar water in hummingbird feeders.

While bees seldom harm hummingbirds, they can drain a feeder quickly, becoming a nuisance for homeowners and crowding out the sweet birds from feeding.

We talked to an entomologist to better understand how you can keep bees out of your hummingbird feeders.

Why Bees Love Hummingbird Feeders

Bees and wasps both need nectar and pollen to survive. When there are few flowers to provide nectar, the sugar water in hummingbird feeders is an easy feeding resource.

Once the insects find the feeder, they will bring other hive residents to the source.

“Yellowjackets are extremely persistent when they find an easy food source,” entomologist Chris M. Williams says. “Once the easy-to-gather nectar is found, it is difficult to dissuade the bees and wasps from returning.”

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6 Other Key Things to Know

• Bees are attracted to hummingbird feeders for the nectar, especially when other nectar sources are available nearby.
• Try bee guards, which make entering difficult for insects but allow a hummingbird’s tongue to easily reach the food.
• Cleaning a hummingbird feeder weekly will help keep bees and ants away.
• Bees are attracted to the color yellow—avoid yellow components on hummingbird feeders.
• Place hummingbird feeders away from blooming flowers to help reduce the number of bees.
• Provide alternate nectar feeding sites for bees so they are not attracted to hummingbird feeders.

9 Tips to Keep Bees Away From Hummingbird Feeders

Williams admits that none of these tips will keep every bee away from hummingbird feeders, but each one is worth a try so you can feed the hummers and keep enjoying the winged jewels during their visits.

Avoid Yellow, Blue, and Purple Feeders

Bees have exceptional eyesight, but cannot see the color red; hummingbirds can, and because they find all bright colors appealing, red is a good choice for a hummingbird feeder.

The colors most likely to attract bees are yellow, blue, and purple, so avoid those colors for the body of a hummingbird feeder and the feeding stations.

Choose the Best Feeder Shape

Gravity-fed feeders (tubes) are easier feeding outlets for bees because the nectar is always very close to the surface. A saucer-shaped hummingbird feeder makes feeding more difficult for the bees, but the hummingbird can easily access the nectar.

Attach Bee Guards

Bee guards keep bees and yellow jackets off the feeding ports, Williams says. Commercial guards are plastic cages that fit over the hole or tube in the feeding station, but you can create DIY guards with an 8-mesh screen (eight holes per linear inch).

Cut, bend, and fold the screen to the proper shape to fit over each feeding port. The long, thin tongue of the hummingbird can still reach the nectar while the mesh does not allow access for the bees.

Clean the Feeder Weekly

Bees are attracted to anything sweet that might cling to the outside of the feeder from drips or leaks.

Before refilling the feeder, take it apart and clean every component with hot water and a small scrub brush. After refilling, carefully wipe away any sticky residue on the outside of the nectar reservoir.

Prepare the Nectar Correctly

While the classic hummingbird nectar recipe is four cups of water per one cup of sugar, Williams suggests using a less sweet mix of five parts water to one part sugar to help keep bees away.

Choose the Best Feeder Location

Since bees visit flowers in the garden to get pollen and nectar, it’s best to skip the flower beds as a location for a hummingbird feeder. Most bird watchers prefer to place the feeder near windows or porches where they can get a closer view of the hummers.

Relocate the Feeder Often

Moving the hummingbird feeder—even just a few yards—every few weeks will help reduce the number of insects on the feeder. The hummingbirds will find the feeder easily, but the bees may move on to another location.

Plant Flowers That Bees Love

To keep bees away from nectar-filled feeders, create a garden with the flowers they love and hummingbirds will enjoy. Bees are most attracted by bee balm, Mexican petunias, zinnias, butterfly weed, and lavender.

Add a Bee Feeding Station

If you don’t have room for lots of flowering plants, create a bee feeding station and locate it far away from your hummingbird feeders. Fill a shallow saucer with sugar water.

Add some stones so the bees can feed without drowning. Williams suggests placing the feeder at least six feet away from the hummingbird feeders. Check and refill the bee feeder often.