I'm feeding bees with my humming bird feeder...

AMKuska

Garden Master
Joined
Jan 25, 2014
Messages
2,350
Reaction score
5,883
Points
317
Location
Washington
I put up a hummingbird feeder for the first time this year, and have been delighted to see one or two hummingbirds visit it. Unfortunately they don't come very often that I see, but somehow the hummingbird feeder gets drained anyway. Today, I noticed at least a dozen bees landing on the feeder, as far as I know eating from it.

Is it safe for them to eat? I don't want to have bees die because they're not getting what they need. I'll take the feeder down if it will cause them harm.
 

Carol Dee

Garden Master
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Messages
13,184
Reaction score
21,466
Points
437
Location
Long Grove, IA
No worry @AMKuska my husband is a bee keeper. He supplement feeds sugar water to the bees. It is fine. My hummingbird feeder draws more wasps than bees or hummers, sadly. Lately I have noticed butterflies feeding from it also!
 

thistlebloom

Garden Master
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
16,473
Reaction score
17,414
Points
457
Location
North Idaho 48th parallel
Are they honey bees or are they wasps? I have the hummer feeders that are a glass bottle atop a reservoir and the wasps land on it but aren't able to reach the sugar water. Last weekend I set up a couple of wasp traps with sugar water in them and have caught several dozen wasps in them so far. I've never seen a honey bee buzzing around my feeders. But they are all over the flowers, so I think the honey bees prefer nectar.
 

AMKuska

Garden Master
Joined
Jan 25, 2014
Messages
2,350
Reaction score
5,883
Points
317
Location
Washington
I'm pretty sure they are honey bees. They have the baskets on their legs and everything. Wasps are brighter yellow and hunt me for sport. x.x I do not like wasps, although I'm sure they do their bit in nature.
 

Carol Dee

Garden Master
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Messages
13,184
Reaction score
21,466
Points
437
Location
Long Grove, IA
I thought about putting up a wasp trap but was afraid I would lure and trap bees as well. The feeder I watch most is right in front of my kitchen window. I see bees and butterflies, but mostly WASPS. If they are bees, they are harmless and the sugar water will not harm them.
 

journey11

Garden Master
Joined
Sep 1, 2009
Messages
8,470
Reaction score
4,228
Points
397
Location
WV, Zone 6B
Yeah, it won't hurt the bees, but they will send back more workers and may overload your feeder so the hummingbirds can't enjoy it. I've heard that you can grease the outer surface of the "flowers" on your feeder with petroleum jelly to deter bees. They don't like landing in it being sticky. It won't stop the hummers, who only need to access the hole to get their nectar. If you try it, let us know how it works.
 

AMKuska

Garden Master
Joined
Jan 25, 2014
Messages
2,350
Reaction score
5,883
Points
317
Location
Washington
I think its too late for that @journey11 it's empty!! :eek:

I will take it down tomorrow and grease a couple of the flowers, maybe that way the bees can still have some, but so can the birds?

We'll see.
 

journey11

Garden Master
Joined
Sep 1, 2009
Messages
8,470
Reaction score
4,228
Points
397
Location
WV, Zone 6B
I think its too late for that @journey11 it's empty!! :eek:

I will take it down tomorrow and grease a couple of the flowers, maybe that way the bees can still have some, but so can the birds?

We'll see.

That will be a good way to test it out, anyway. :)
 

so lucky

Garden Master
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
8,342
Reaction score
4,963
Points
397
Location
SE Missouri, Zone 6
@AMKuska, if your feeder seems to empty really really fast, you might check to see if raccoons could get to it. I have found them sitting on the deck rail, drinking out of the feeder like it is a bottle of coke!
Oh, and some feeders can be retrofitted with bee guards, little plastic mesh baskets that fit over the flower, that bees can't get through. Perky Pet feeders I think. Don't give up on the hummers. You should get lots of rufous where you live, I think. If you only see two, that means there are probably 8 or so that are using it.
 

Latest posts

Top