Honey bees on hummingbird feeder - Ask Extension
Overwhelming honey bee activity at hummingbird feeders; need solutions.
I'm experiencing a large number of honey bees, some appearing defensive and...
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Honey bees on hummingbird feeder #915728
Asked August 28, 2025, 4:39 PM EDT
Overwhelming honey bee activity at hummingbird feeders; need solutions.
I'm experiencing a large number of honey bees, some appearing defensive and accompanied by yellow jackets, at my hummingbird feeders. Attempts to deter them with cinnamon and eucalyptus oil have been unsuccessful, and they are now trying to enter my home. I live in Boulder, CO, at approximately 6800 ft elevation. I am committed to non-harmful solutions. I am trying to remove the feeders, but am overwhelmed (I'll wait until the evening). I suspect they belong to a local, registered beekeeper and would like to contact them, if possible, to report the issue. What other methods can I use to discourage the bees? My images are too large to send.
Boulder County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Mandy,
If you have images, you can send them to my email at <personal data hidden>.
This can be a tough one to manage, and it's very common.
A few strategies you could try:
As temperatures cool down at night, bees and wasps are searching for food. As the nights continue to cool, the bees and wasps will calm down.
Can you tell more about how they are entering your home? Unless there are food sources available, honey bees and wasps would have no reason to enter your home unless it's accidental. Is your feeder close to where they are entering? How many bees and wasps are entering your home?
Hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Thanks,
Lisa
Lisa Mason
Colorado State University Extension in Arapahoe County
If you have images, you can send them to my email at <personal data hidden>.
This can be a tough one to manage, and it's very common.
A few strategies you could try:
- Removing the feeder for awhile to encourage them to find food elsewhere. Remove feeder at night. Try removing it for 3-4 days.
- Move the feeder to a slightly different location. The insects won't find it right away.
- Wash the feeder every couple of days or when you refill. This will remove the any sweet residue they are feeding on.
- You could try "bee guards" on your feeder. Something like this. You would need to make sure they would fit on your feeder. I've heard mixed reviews on the effectiveness. Bee guards may work because bees and wasps have much shorter tongues than hummingbirds. By providing a barrier, you exclude the bees but still allow the hummingbirds to access the nectar. This article from UC Extension suggests a "make-your-own" barrier with eight-mesh or six-mesh screen, or any other type of mesh.
As temperatures cool down at night, bees and wasps are searching for food. As the nights continue to cool, the bees and wasps will calm down.
Can you tell more about how they are entering your home? Unless there are food sources available, honey bees and wasps would have no reason to enter your home unless it's accidental. Is your feeder close to where they are entering? How many bees and wasps are entering your home?
Hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Thanks,
Lisa
Lisa Mason
Colorado State University Extension in Arapahoe County
