# Why do ants swim into my hummingbird feeder? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 20, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ants-swim-into-my-hummingbird-feeder/128834 "2002-09-20T16:58:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Texican](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ebca7d/32.png) [@Texican](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Texican)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ants-swim-into-my-hummingbird-feeder/128834/1 "2002-09-20T16:58:27Z")
I mean, I can understand them wanting the sugar water. But why swim into the unit rather than drink at the little hole? Does surface tension suck them in? After a few days there will be a layer of ants at the top of the jar, swimming around. Is this like the ant equivilant of drowning beer (“what a way to go…”)? ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ants-swim-into-my-hummingbird-feeder/128834/2 "2002-09-20T17:58:54Z")
I can’t tell you why but I can help you stop carnage over at your feeder. I had the same problem : I should probably quote the below source but don’t know how. "Ants don’t like the smell of peppermint. They’ll avoid anyplace that smells like it, so start inside with the places you think that they might be entering. Next, do the outside where they might be coming in. Possibilities: peppermint flavoring (used for baking), peppermint tea, and if you have a health food store nearby-_Dr. Bonner’s peppermint scented castile liquid soap_. [copyrighted text deleted-see below] For hummingbird feeders, cover the string with vaseline to keep ants off. ---
**Author:** ![scotth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@scotth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ants-swim-into-my-hummingbird-feeder/128834/3 "2002-09-20T18:03:18Z")
One possible theory, there is a traction problem where they enter to get the sugar water and some fall in and can’t get out. I would be surprised if any of the ants want to be stuck in there. Try an experiment. Maybe dropping a little twig or some such in along the path that the ants would take to get to the sugar water and see if you wind up with fewer ant in it. Try to position the twig so that it would make an easy escape route… It is hard for me to guess how possible such an arrange might be without seeing the actual feeder you are using. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ants-swim-into-my-hummingbird-feeder/128834/4 "2002-09-21T23:57:42Z")
I can personally vouch that Petroleum Jelly (noTM) stops ants from getting into a hummingbird feeder. Small bees still get past the bee guards though. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2002, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ants-swim-into-my-hummingbird-feeder/128834/5 "2002-09-22T01:33:11Z")
**KidCharlemagne** , I have deleted most of your post. Quotations should be limited to a paragraph or two, especially if the matter is copyrighted. You are expected to name your source, and if it is online, a link is appreciated. It appears to be from [http://www.tipztime.com/area/bugtipz/ants.html](http://www.tipztime.com/area/bugtipz/ants.html) Please note the copyright notice at the bottom of the page. bibliophage moderator GQ