There are around 2.5 million ants for every human on this planet, and if you feel they’re all in your yard right now, you’re not alone. This summer’s heatwave has created ideal conditions for ant populations to surge, particularly in urban areas where there are few natural predators. And the garden spot that’s a magnet for ants? Hummingbird feeders.
Ants detect sweet substances using specialized chemical receptors on their antennae, and can pick up the scent up to 20 feet away. The reason why hummingbird feeders attract so many ants is that sugar granules dissolved in water release a much stronger chemical signal than dry crystals, so are far easier to find. Once a scout ant discovers a plentiful source, it heads back to the nest, leaving behind a pheromone trail that other ants can follow – and suddenly your feeder is smothered in ants.
And that’s a problem. Ants attracted to and falling into the sugar water contaminate the food supply and can jam the small feeding holes. Hummers rarely touch a feeder that’s covered in ants either. Right now, if you’re wondering how to help hummingbirds prepare for their great migration, making your feeder ant-free should be on your to-do list. As well as the basics of keeping your feeder clean and drip-free, there are plenty of chemical-free solutions to try. Researchers have found that hummingbirds can remember their favorite feeding spots, so make sure yours stays ant-free.
1. Hang a Length of Fishing Line
One of the best ways to get rid of ants on a hummingbird feeder is to hang it from a length of fishing line. Ants can climb most things, but fishing line is too fine and slippery for them to grip. Use 20 pound fishing line such as this Stren Original Monofilament Fishing Line from Walmart to create an impassable barrier.
2. Use an Ant Moat
Another effective but natural pest solution to prevent ants from reaching a hummingbird feeder is to attach an ant moat above it and keep it filled with water. Smaller ants are able to cross water as they’re light enough to not break the surface tension, but a moat will stop most. If you find ants are still breaching this preventive measure, simply hang two moats, one above the other.
Most ant moats come in a pack of two or four and are a cheap buy – this pack of four Red Umbrella Ant Guards from Amazon is currently $8.99 – so that’s easy to achieve.
3. Wrap Aluminum Foil Around the Hook or Pole
Some folk say aluminum foil is too slippery for ants to grip, others reckon it disrupts their navigation signals; some say it works great, others reckon it doesn’t work at all – but as you’ve probably already got a roll handy in a kitchen drawer, it’s well worth a try. Make sure the shiny side faces outwards.
4. Sprinkle Wood Ash Around the Pole Base
Wood ash is fine, dry and gritty enough to irritate ants, and if your feeder is on a pole, sprinkling a good amount around the base is a strong deterrent. You’ll need to re-sprinkle after rain, though, and be careful if that feeder stake is pushed into your lawn. The high alkalinity of wood ash will help to deter ants, but it can also scorch and damage grass.
5. Use Diatomaceous Earth Instead
Diatomaceous earth is a better solution to use on lawns because it can actually help to strengthen grass. This is another fine, abrasive powder that dehydrates ants who attempt to cross it so, like wood ash, only works when it’s dry and needs reapplying after rain. Do use a food-grade product such as Harris Diatomaceous Earth from Amazon that’s safe for use around animals.
What Not to Do
Whatever you do, don’t apply Vaseline or any type of oil to a hummingbird feeder pole, even at the base, to stop ants. Even a tiny amount of an oil-based product that gets onto a hummingbird’s feathers can prove fatal. Petroleum jelly in particular causes feathers to lose their waterproofing, attracts dirt and is easily spread as the bird preens, affecting the hummer’s ability to fly and, ultimately, survive.
Keeping ants off a hummingbird feeder is simple with these natural pest prevention solutions. And if you feel you need to reduce the ant population in your garden, a chemical-free ant trap using pantry staples is the answer to getting rid of ants and anthills naturally.
Feeders With Built-In Ant Moats
Saucer Style
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