The Simple Swap That Can Keep Wasps Far Away From A Hummingbird Feeder

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There's nothing like the jump scare of reaching to refill your hummingbird feeder only to discover a cluster of hungry wasps or yellow jackets crawling all around its base. Hummingbirds don't like wasps, either. Wasps have even been known to chase hummingbirds away from the sugar water. But don't worry. You can discourage wasps at the hummingbird feeder with a simple swap. Just change any yellow markings on the feeder and replace them with red.

Avoiding yellow is just one among many tips for guarding your hummingbird feeder from wasps. While wasps can be beneficial pollinators, taking all of the nectar and leaving none for the hummingbirds isn't ideal. Besides, hummingbirds hate to be stung by yellow jackets just as much as we do. Larger species of wasps, like cicada killers, can even kill hummingbirds. Not to mention, some species of wasps raid hummingbird nests and eat their young, so let's just say wasps and hummingbirds do not get along. So if you want to keep hummingbirds happy, you might need some wasp control. However, don't use pesticides as these can harm the birds as well.

If you've got the kind of hummingbird feeder with yellow feeding stations, paint or change them. Wasps, like bees, are attracted to bright colors – yellow or white in particular. Yellow and white are typically associated with the kinds of flowers wasps like to visit and the sweet nectar they prefer. Blue can also be a favorite among wasps, so avoid that color, too.

Wasps don't even see red, since it's not a color available in their spectrum of vision, so they'll usually leave red feeders alone. Hummingbirds, on the other hand, love red because it reminds them of the nectar-rich flowers they love. The concentration of cones in the birds' retinas appear to have drops of yellow or red in them, which act like yellow or red tinted lenses, making them sensitive to reds. Though, they don't pick up on blues as well. 

If you can't remove the yellow parts of your feeder, try buying a new feeder or painting the old one. Just use a non-toxic paint that can hold up to the elements, like FolkArt Outdoor Acrylic Paint in Assorted Colors. But take the extra precaution to never paint inside a feeder, as it can contaminate the nectar. 

After removing all yellow from your hummingbird feeder or painting yellow parts red, make sure to put the feeder in a shady spot. Wasps prefer eating in the sunlight. Remember to check for leaks, too. Wasps love leaky or sticky feeders as much as they love the color yellow, so keeping feeders clean is essential. You can also strategically use plants that keep wasps away near the feeder to discourage them. Of course, keep in mind that wasps can benefit the garden by eating pesky aphids and other parasitic insects, so you might not want to scare all of them away.