How to Keep Ants Off a Hummingbird Feeder

Remove the feeder before ants build a larger trail into the nectar. Ants, bees, and wasps are drawn to the sugar solution in hummingbird feeders, and Cornell Lab notes that they can consume or contaminate the food and discourage hummingbirds from visiting when they reach the feeder.

Discard nectar that has ants in it, then wash the feeder, ports, hanger, and outside surfaces with hot water. Audubon recommends wiping spills and keeping feeders tidy because sugar-water drips give insects easy access to the feeder once the outside is sticky.

Reassemble the feeder tightly and look for cracks, warped seals, loose ports, or wind-tipped parts that let clear nectar drip. Cornell Lab explains that bottle-style feeders may leak in direct sun as warm air expands, while saucer-style feeders are generally less likely to drip and attract ants.

Hang a cup-style ant moat between the hook and the feeder, or use the built-in moat if your feeder has one. Fill it with plain water; Cornell Lab says many saucer feeders use a separate water moat that keeps ants from reaching the sugar water inside the feeder.

Give ants only one route to the feeder, then block that route with the moat. Cornell Lab recommends a simple rod or hanger rather than a setup with extra strings or contact points, because a water trap works best when ants must pass through it on the way down.

Shift the feeder to a new hook, pole, or nearby location after cleaning it. Cornell Lab lists moving the feeder as a useful response when bees, wasps, or ants become a problem, since it can interrupt the route insects have learned to reach the feeder.

Use fresh clear nectar made with the 4:1 ratio: 1 part plain white table sugar to 4 parts water. Audubon gives the same white-sugar-and-water formula and notes that natural nectar is clear, so red coloring is unnecessary for hummingbird feeders.

Check the moat daily in hot or dry weather because it cannot stop ants after it evaporates. Clean and refill the feeder on a regular schedule, and clean right away if you see insects, mold, cloudiness, or sticky buildup; Audubon recommends more frequent cleaning in warm weather and whenever insects appear.

Do not put petroleum jelly, cooking oil, grease, sticky tape, or insecticide on the feeder, hanger, ports, or pole. Cornell Lab warns that oil and sticky substances can contaminate nectar or soil feathers, and University of Maine Extension says pesticides should not be used at hummingbird feeders because they can harm hummingbirds and other wildlife.