Bees and Ants
 

How do I keep them from taking over my hummingbird feeder?
The hummingbirds come within 3 feet of the feeder and just hover....only to leave after about 30 seconds. They just won't get any closer to the bees.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1690812629.jpg

Those aren't bees

Your bees look like hornets. Not sure what to do about that other than following them and taking out their nest.

The farmer ants may just need some more convenient food on the ground. Farmer ants are good for patrolling trees and plants for destructive insects so don't poison them.

You need an ant trap:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1690814889.jpg

https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/880880-more-birds-hummingbird-feeder-ant-guard-moat.html?blaintm_source=bing&blaintm_medium=pla&m sclkid=b71a4c46b5901b2d14c028817d6a8cdc&utm_source =bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=All%20Products&u tm_term=4584070165159627&utm_content=All%20Product s

As far as the yellow jackets / hornets, best solution is to find the nest and destroy it. You could also set up a trap for them...

Ok..I realize they're hornets.:) I'm used to calling anything that flies and stings me....a bee.

They are so intent on the nectar that I can put my hand right in the middle of them without any trouble.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1690816060.jpg

That might do the job for the ants....I'll pick one up.

This will fix them right up and tell them who's boss.

https://vimeo.com/130597562

I don't know what do about the bees/hornets other than find their nest and destroy it.
Are you sure your hummingbird feeder doesn't have an ant trap built in? Will the top of it hold water?

I put double side tape on the wire, but I like the moat way better. Red solo cup and hot glue gun, here I come

I just now checked after reading your post...no, it's smooth and flat on the top with no raised edges. I'll either get the barrier one above or look for a diff feeder with it built in.

My wife just used peppermint oil on our feeders to keep the flying bugs (yellow jackets?) away from our feeders - apparently they dislike the odor. It doesn't bother the hummingbirds.

^^^ I'll try that.... Thanks.

Those aren't bees. Bees are our pals. They make food possible.
When the bees are gone (and they are dying off) then we're gone.

Got it...my bad.
Just a habit of mine to call them all 'bees' :)

Yellow jacket trap:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/RESCUE-Outdoor-Disposable-Hanging-Yellow-Jacket-Trap-1-Pack/17134652?wl13=1775&selectedSellerId=0&http://clickserve.dartsearch.net/link/click?lid=92700060762254883&ds_s_kwgid=58700006715 445296&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000003583668&ds _a_cid=654818135&ds_a_caid=13956209185&ds_a_agid=1 26452889113&ds_a_lid=pla-1392082700544&ds_a_cid=116919406&ds_a_caid=3615750 31&ds_a_agid=1200667322826314&ds_a_fiid=&ds_a_lid= pla-4578641339573147&&ds_e_adid=&ds_e_matchtype=search &ds_e_device=c&ds_e_network=o&ds_e_product_group_i d=4578641339573147&ds_e_product_id=17134652_0&ds_e _product_merchant_id=27449&ds_e_product_country=US &ds_e_product_language=EN&ds_e_product_channel=Loc al&ds_e_product_store_id=1775&ds_url_v=2&ds_dest_u rl=?&adid=222222222320000000000_1200667322826314_l ia&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=75041 804331059&wl4=pla-4578641339573147&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&wl10=Walmart&wl11= Local&wl12=17134652_0&wl14=yellow%20jacket%20trap& veh=sem&msclkid=a8e0b60a720d102c0a00d2cd9e1c39fa&g clid=a8e0b60a720d102c0a00d2cd9e1c39fa&gclsrc=3p.ds

Im sorry if I'm a scold about bees. I had some for a while, learned a little about them and I'm really worried about the health of the earth's population if we can't figure out a way to reverse this trend where our habits are killing them.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uAf_tMxc2RA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

^^^ Aant Bee!

The only reason I watched that show....there was no other choice.:)

Eh, by then we'll have mini drones. But I do like bees. I don't like wasps much but if they aren't bothering me, I leave them alone. Haven't seen one this year. I see bees in distress and dying frequently.