# Hummingbirds, wasps and poison **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 2, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751 "2015-09-02T22:00:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![justmeetee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@justmeetee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justmeetee)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/1 "2015-09-02T22:00:40Z")
I just refilled my hummingbird feeder today and what used to be an occasional wasp has become a near invasion. There are about a half dozen on or around it continuously and they chase the hummingbirds away when they come to feed. Is there a wasp repellent I could use that wouldn’t hurt the hummingbirds? I’ve been having a pitched battle with depression for a few months and one of my most effective weapons is my view out my kitchen window of the feathered and furry neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/2 "2015-09-02T22:08:18Z")
No repellent or poison advice to offer, but I do suggest you get a better feeder - one that doesn’t allow the wasps/yellowjackets to get near the nectar or even know that nectar is around. [This one is excellent.](http://www.amazon.com/Aspects-367-Hummzinger-Hummingbird-12-Ounce/dp/B000CSH7VA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441231531&sr=8-1&keywords=hummzinger+ultra+feeder) I’ve been using this one for years and have no problem at all with wasps. If you hang it up, it also has an “ant moat” filled with water that won’t allow ants or other crawling beasties access to the nectar. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/3 "2015-09-02T22:14:48Z")
There was a recent thread about this from another poster that might be worth searching for. One tip, in addition to buying a better feeder design, is to put up one of those wasp traps near the hummingbird feeder. That way, any wasps that hang out in hopes of getting some sugar water will head over the trap instead. ---
**Author:** ![justmeetee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@justmeetee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justmeetee)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/4 "2015-09-02T22:20:18Z")
The feeder was a gift. It stays. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/5 "2015-09-03T00:46:05Z")
I had bald faced hornets hitting on my feeders last year and the tip I followed was to paint the hole area with vegetable oil. It made it too slippery for the buggers to land. The hummers landing area is far enough away to not be bothered and they didn’t mind the smell of the oil. I had to repaint it a couple of times as rain would wash it off. Another tip was to make up an extra feeder filled with even sweeter than normal nectar and placing that away from the regular feeders. In my case we could see the hornet nest so placed the extra feeder closer to it and they left my other feeders alone. So far this year I have only had a few yellow jackets stopping by but not enough for me to get out the oil just yet. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/6 "2015-09-03T00:56:22Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > No repellent or poison advice to offer, but I do suggest you get a better feeder - one that doesn’t allow the wasps/yellowjackets to get near the nectar or even know that nectar is around. > > [This one is excellent.](http://www.amazon.com/Aspects-367-Hummzinger-Hummingbird-12-Ounce/dp/B000CSH7VA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441231531&sr=8-1&keywords=hummzinger+ultra+feeder) > > I’ve been using this one for years and have no problem at all with wasps. If you hang it up, it also has an “ant moat” filled with water that won’t allow ants or other crawling beasties access to the nectar. Truth. I’ve had these for a dozen years and never seen a wasp on the feeder. And we do have wasps. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/7 "2015-09-03T01:21:47Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > Another tip was to make up an extra feeder filled with even sweeter than normal nectar and placing that away from the regular feeders. In my case we could see the hornet nest so placed the extra feeder closer to it and they left my other feeders alone. Interesting idea. Hummingbirds prefer nectar at a concentration of about 25-30%. I think the upper limit is determined by how easy it is to suck it up. Hornets and I assume wasps would prefer nectar as sweet as they can get it. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/8 "2015-09-03T01:58:27Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > I had bald faced hornets hitting on my feeders last year and the tip I followed was to paint the hole area with vegetable oil. It made it too slippery for the buggers to land. The hummers landing area is far enough away to not be bothered and they didn’t mind the smell of the oil. I had to repaint it a couple of times as rain would wash it off. > > Another tip was to make up an extra feeder filled with even sweeter than normal nectar and placing that away from the regular feeders. In my case we could see the hornet nest so placed the extra feeder closer to it and they left my other feeders alone. > > So far this year I have only had a few yellow jackets stopping by but not enough for me to get out the oil just yet. If you could see the hornet’s nest, why didn’t you then and there murder them with fire? Or at least arranged for them to be murdered…with fire. You could call my “pals” at Get UR done extermination. _gah_ I can’t believe I even joked about those assholes. Assholes that I hate. And typed in their stupid stupid STUPID business name. Oy…I hate myself. ---
**Author:** ![bb49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@bb49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bb49)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/9 "2015-09-03T02:09:01Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > There was a recent thread about this from another poster that might be worth searching for. > > One tip, in addition to buying a better feeder design, is to put up one of those wasp traps near the hummingbird feeder. That way, any wasps that hang out in hopes of getting some sugar water will head over the trap instead. We did this and it worked great. No need to find another feeder or change the solution. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/10 "2015-09-03T03:20:32Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > If you could see the hornet’s nest, why didn’t you then and there murder them with fire? Or at least arranged for them to be murdered…with fire. You could call my “pals” at Get UR done extermination. We’re kind of live and let live people. They are a pretty insect who has a role in the world. [http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/bald-faced\_hornet.htm](http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/bald-faced_hornet.htm) Unlike, say, mosquitoes who can all die.\* The only reason we looked up how to get rid of them was because I had feeders on both sides of the sidewalk and it made getting into the house an adventure. But no one ever got stung. I also didn’t like seeing my hummers being ran off of their food. \*I know, I know… even mosquitoes have a role. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/11 "2015-09-03T03:29:38Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > …They are a pretty insect… no…such…thing. Not even butterflies. But I digress… ---
**Author:** ![justmeetee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@justmeetee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justmeetee)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbirds-wasps-and-poison/729751/12 "2015-09-03T13:57:38Z")
Think I like the trap made from a soda bottle idea, since I’m poor and can get an empty from my neighbor. Thanks