Q: Last year I was advised to try swabbing the feeding ports with canola, or like oil to discourage bees at our hummingbird feeders but that doesn’t seem to have any effect this year. I don’t know what kind of bees, and I don’t want to kill them, but I’m tired of them.
A:Â Planting a variety of flowering plants nearby as an alternative for the bees would likely lessen their visits to your hummingbird feeders. Bees seem to prefer flowers to feeders if they are available. Flowers have chemical cues and visual cues to attract them.
Bees might also visit your feeders for the water. If there hasn’t been any rain lately you could put out a bowl of water with something floating in it so they won’t drown. Just be sure to rinse it out every few days so you don’t breed mosquitoes.
Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. Questions may be emailed to
