To keep wasps away from hummingbird feeders, these strategies are effective:
- Use a separate feeder with a very strong sugar water solution (e.g., 1 cup sugar per cup water) placed away from the hummingbird feeder to attract wasps elsewhere.
- Avoid yellow accents on feeders, as yellow attracts wasps; instead use red feeders.
- Choose saucer-style feeders or dish feeders that are less accessible to wasps compared to tube feeders.
- Keep feeders clean and dry; clean often to avoid spills and fermentation that attract insects.
- Periodically move the feeder by a few feet to confuse wasps.
- Place fake wasp nests nearby to deter real wasps.
- Use bee guards or nectar guard tips designed to block wasp access but allow hummingbirds to feed.
- If there is a persistent wasp problem, manually remove wasps with a vacuum or trap them using sugar bait traps located away from the feeders.
