I get that if any nectar seeps out from where the pieces fit together. At times when it's very windy the feeder sways and a litle drop or two of nectar will spill out from the feeder holes. The bees are on that quickly and won't go away until I empty it out and wash it off and re-fill it. You might try pouring a heavier concentration of sugar water nectar into pie pans and hang them in a far corner of your yard. The insects will go for the sweeter stuff and hopefully stay away from the feeders.

Another solution is to relocate your feeder. The hummies will quickly find it but it takes the bees a little more time.

~ Cat

Thanks Cat; I had also posted this over on the Bee forum and was told they're worker honey bees. I have 2 feeders, and no bees on the second feeder, so I'm just going to leave it be and let the honey bees have their adventure. I spotted a female hummer this morning, probably a migrator, since I hadn't noticed her aggressive behavior in my previous female. She's chasing any bird that gets within about 50' of where my feeder is, although she's been hitting the plants and avoiding the feeder...

Tracey, I had this also, read on one of these boards to use mint extract on the feeder. I bought it(in the baking isle, by the vanilla extract) and used Q-tips and swabbed it all over and it worked. I re-do the treatment every time I fill, and rarely see any more bees. I wish the same could be said of the ants. They are making me crazy. Sadly, I havn't seen a Hummer in about 10 days no, so I guess they are on their journey, but I live in central Fl. so I keep cleaning and refilling just in case........

I like the ones at 2 o'clock...action shot. Coming in for a landing...:-)

I just noticed those ones flying in! LOL

Tracey - at least you confirmed to me that the saucer feeders aren't immune to the bees and wasps. I have alot of yellow jackets this year where last year, it was mostly paper wasps. The yellow jackets manage to actually squeeze through the bee guard grids on one of my feeders, which makes the guards sortof useless at this point- whereas the paper wasps couldn't get in like that. I may try the mint oil trick. I am actually growing mint too...

Tracy, thats quite a shot, I havent had any honeybees at my feeders , I have wasps and yellow jackets, but mainly at the one that leaks. I would say you definately have some leakage for that many bees to form on the rim of your feeder. I also agree on putting something sweet to draw them away from the feeders and will also keep the mint extract in mind. Tracy it appears that my last females have also flown the coop . I had two visits on 9-16 but none today. Each day had less and less till today. Im sure you wont even have to worry about bees much longer either.

Steve; I believe I filled that feeder on Thursday morning, to the line, but it rained quite a bit that Thursday & Friday, so I'm assuming the rain water could've dripped through the holes. I've never had this problem before; all the rain from Ernesto didn't overflow my feeders! There weren't that many today, but there were alot on my sedums and other plants. I can't believe how many bees & wasps were out today; I thought the carpenter bees basically disappeared but came back in full force this weekend. I can tolerate most bees, but these guys really piss me off! I hadn't seen the hummer since I last posted this morning, so I believe she was just passing by. I'm hoping some more migrators will pass by; my digital SLR is due to be delivered tomorrow (wooooo hooooo), after alot of anxiety of it being backordered (awesome price, only available for a few hours!). I was hoping to test it out on the hummers of course ;)

I saw the neatest way to get rid of wasp and yellow jackets on Georgia gardening. Get a gallon jar and place in there 1 cup apple sauce, on top of that place 1/2 cup crushed cat food. Do not stir mixture. Then insert a funnel, one that is big enough for it not to fall down to the bottom of glass jar. Place duct tape around the jar and funnel where they meet to seal together. What happens is the wasp and yellow jackets will go down the funnel to eat the putrid mixture, but cannot get back out. They will climb up sides of jar but if there is a good seal (glass jar and funnel) where they meet they cannot get out and they are eliminated. Sevin liquid 10% if you can find the whole where yellow jackets are in the ground is a good eliminator for them also. Just mix concentrate up and put in garden sprayer and spray hole. Run just in case they don't die right off. But this does work as I have tried it.

This is from www.hummingbird.net.

Bees, Wasps, and Yellowjackets
It was recently discovered that bees and wasps are attracted to the color yellow. Since many hummingbird feeders have yellow plastic "flowers" or other parts, try removing such parts or painting them red before hanging your feeder in the spring - once bees learn where food is, they fly right back to the hive to tell all their friends, so avoiding their attention up front works best.

Ellen , I like that gallon jug idea , I will remember it for next year. I dont get the crushed cat part , I dont see dry cat food as adding much to the mixture. I have also heard of the painting the colors yellow to red. I just dont agree with that one. I think they are more attracted to the sweet aroma than color. Have you ever noticed how they attack fallen rotting fruit from trees like apples and pears? That would also be a good mixture. Yes I had my last visits on 9-16 and havent seen one since. Im still holding strong that I might see migraters thou. I took down my to yard feeders but am leaving my window feeders up just in case. Sure hated to see them go for the year---boo hoooooooooo!

Hi, hummersteve!!! Well, from what the narriator on the show said about the crushed cat food is that wasp and especially yellow jackets eat tiny, tiny insects. The crushed dry cat food lures them into the trap along with the applesauce. Wonder if you sweetened the applesauce a little, would it intice them more? I will definately try this one too. I got stung 4 times this year changing my feeders out. I was beginning to think they (yellow jackets)thought I was their personal pin cushion. Boy, when a yellow jacket stings you it HURTS for awhile. I am still seeing hummers. Maybe about 4 or 5 and they must be juvies because they are small.

Hey rthummer, Its certainly dangerous changing feeders when bees are around several times I was changing mine and didnt know bees were on the bottom side. Didnt get stung, but I could tell they were upset by me taking the feeder. Well you are lucky to still have hummers , no matter what size they are. Enjoy them while you still have them. I dont have very high expectations of seeing any more, but hey you never know. Ive been concentrating on what new feeder I might put up or what flowers I might add next spring. So if I dont hear from you for a while maybe we can connect next spring. take care--steve

Honeybees have become rather scarce around here. I would not recommend any solution which involves killing them.

My Hummzinger feeder never gets any bees or ants.

Hey Tracey and rthummer--as I said you never know what may happen. AS I sat at my pc this afternoon guess who lands on my window feeder. Yep, Miss adult rubythroat herself. I about fell out of my chair. It has been four days now since the last time I had a visitor. She didnt stay long thou maybe a minute. I wished her a pleasant and safe journey south. This encourages me to refreshen my feeders for any more that may pass my way and bless my day.

My honey bees go after my garden and flowers like crazy. I have tons of yellowjackets and wasp. Honeybees like pure nectar. Wasp and yellowjacket on the other hand like protein in their mixture, thus the crushed cat food. I live where we have more insects than you. South. Too bad we can't ship some to you harryshoe.

hummersteve Excellent! I saw in another thread that you said you didn't want to get your hopes up. I decided not to say a thing; I figured I didn't want to jinx you ;) This morning I had a gal stop by too. I went in for the NEW mega camera (finally!), but I didn't see her, for the only few minutes I could hang around. I normally keep my feeders up until November, because I had quite a few migrators last year that stuck around in October.

harryshoe I wouldn't do a thing to harm them! I'm thrilled to have them ;)

I use to have bees at my other hummer feeders with yellow flowers on it. But since I only use the hummzingers no bees. They are in my many flowers-where i like them. Got so many fruit trees. Need them them there.