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How to Keep Bees and Wasps Off Hummingbird Feeders
Bees and wasps crowding a hummingbird feeder can drive the birds away. Five pages (Journey North, Bob Vila, Hunker, Wild Bird Scoop and a Birdfy guide) give overlapping fixes. This guide shows where they agree, where they conflict, and what none of them recommends.
By The Bird Feeder Guide Editorial Team · Specs verified October 2026 · Updated October 2026
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon links below are search links and we show no prices because they change.
How this guide was made: research-based from the cited expert sources, compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team. We did not hands-on test any feeder or product.
Quick answer
Every page we read starts with the feeder itself: a saucer-style feeder with all-red parts and no yellow, kept clean and free of drips. After that, move the feeder a few feet or take it down for a day or two, put it in shade, and consider red bee guards over the ports. Journey North and Bob Vila both warn never to put cooking oil, petroleum jelly or pesticide on or near a feeder.
Gear that helps, at a glance
| Product | Best for | Key specs (as stated by sources) | Who should skip it | Check on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspects HummZinger HighView saucer feeder | A saucer design that sits the nectar below the ports, which Bob Vila, Hunker and Wild Bird Scoop prefer | Capacity: 12 oz. Type: saucer. Described as unbreakable with an ant moat (Bob Vila). Color and bee-guard details: Not stated | Anyone who wants a camera feeder or a bottle style. Check that the model you buy has no yellow parts | Check on Amazon |
| Red bee guards (nectar guards) | Adding to a feeder you already own; Hunker says choose red and never yellow | Type: small grate over the ports. Fit and material: Not stated. Hunker: most effective against bees, limited success against wasps. Birdfy: stops wasps too | Anyone whose feeder already leaks. Sources say to fix leaks first | Check on Amazon |
| Commercial insect trap | Heavy wasp pressure, set well away from the feeder | Journey North says use sparingly and away from the feeder. Specs: Not stated | Anyone worried about catching pollinators (our inference) | Check on Amazon |
Prices: not shown. Specs verified October 2026.
What works, and who it suits
Saucer feeder, all red
Bob Vila says saucer feeders drip less and are harder for insects to reach. Hunker says the ports sit too high for bees and wasps to reach the nectar. Wild Bird Scoop calls saucers the best way to let birds in and keep bees out. Journey North, Birdfy, Hunker and Wild Bird Scoop all say avoid yellow parts.
Who it is for: anyone replacing a feeder. Who should skip it: people happy with a bottle feeder that does not leak.
Move it, shade it
Journey North says moving the feeder a few feet cuts insect visits. Hunker and Bob Vila say taking it down for one to two days can help. Birdfy says relocate every few days, while Bob Vila warns not to move it too often. Journey North, Birdfy and Bob Vila say shade slows fermentation.
Who it is for: a quick, free first step. Who should skip it: nobody, but expect it to be partial.
Keep it clean and leak-free
All five pages stress leaks and drips. Journey North suggests a soapy sponge and plenty of rinse water. Birdfy says wipe daily and avoid soap residue. Hunker says replace a cracked or leaking feeder.
Who it is for: everyone. Who should skip it: nobody.
Weaker nectar
Bob Vila and Hunker say bees prefer stronger mixes and that a 5:1 water-to-sugar ratio still attracts hummingbirds. Birdfy calls 4:1 standard and says stronger mixes ferment faster. See our nectar recipe and how often to change nectar.
Who it is for: persistent bee problems. Who should skip it: anyone who has not first fixed leaks.
Where the sources disagree
Decoys split the pages: Journey North, Bob Vila and Hunker suggest a shallow bowl of stronger sugar water about 5 to 6 feet away in full sun, but Birdfy says not to, because bees can drown or get intoxicated, and suggests a water dish with textured rocks instead. Bee guards on wasps also conflict (Birdfy yes, Hunker limited). Bob Vila shows yellow flower-shaped guards while Hunker, Journey North and Birdfy say avoid yellow. Wild Bird Scoop alone suggests fake wasp nests. Related reading: best hummingbird feeders, when to put out hummingbird feeders and how to attract hummingbirds.
Limits and what the sources do not say
No page we read recommends peppermint oil, and Journey North names menthol cough rubs as something to never use. We read no university extension page for this topic. Journey North shows no date. Birdfy is a feeder seller and its guide is promotional. The HummZinger details come from one page. We did not test any feeder, guard or trap, and we confirmed no Amazon product codes, so all links are search links.
Questions about bees and wasps at hummingbird feeders
Do bee guards stop wasps and yellow jackets?
Birdfy says yes. Hunker says guards work best on bees and have limited success against wasps.
Should I put out a sugar-water decoy?
Journey North, Bob Vila and Hunker recommend a shallow decoy about 5 to 6 feet away in full sun. Birdfy advises against it.
Does peppermint oil, cooking oil or petroleum jelly work?
No page we read recommends peppermint oil. Journey North says never to use cooking oil, menthol rubs or petroleum jelly, and Bob Vila says not to use oil, spray, petroleum jelly or tape on a feeder.
Can I weaken the nectar to discourage bees?
Bob Vila and Hunker say bees prefer stronger mixes and that 5:1 water to sugar still attracts hummingbirds. Birdfy says 4:1 is standard.
Related guides
Best Hummingbird Feeders
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
How Often to Change Nectar
When to Put Out Feeders
Sources and method
Specs verified October 2026. This guide is research-based from the sources below, compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team, with no hands-on testing.
Journey North, Bees At Your Feeders? Simple, Safe Tips (no date shown)
Hunker, How To Keep Wasps and Bees Off A Hummingbird Feeder (updated April 30, 2022)
Wild Bird Scoop, How To Keep Bees Away From Your Hummingbird Feeder (May 9, 2023)
Birdfy, How to Keep Bees Away From Hummingbird Feeders (July 17, 2025; seller content)
Related reading: how to clean a hummingbird feeder.