Keep Ants Away From Hummingbird Feeders With A Simple Hack

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Much like moths to a flame, ants are naturally attracted to hummingbird feeders. While it's simply a matter of the sweetness of nectar combined with the scavenging nature of ants, when you put up a feeder to attract hummingbirds, it often puts you in a sticky situation with ants. Fortunately, ants can be deterred without chemicals by using Teflon tape. You can either use the tape as a physical barrier to stop ants or as a way to keep hummingbird feeders from leaking by applying some plumber's tape to the threads where the jar screws into the base of the feeder.

Teflon tape is the white, thin tape that plumbers use on threaded fittings. It's made from polytetrafluoroethylene, which is a bit of a mouthful, so it's often shortened to PTFE. Most people simply call it plumber's tape or Teflon tape, and you probably have some of it in your shed or garage.  A few wraps of Teflon tape should be enough to keep your hummingbird feeder from leaking, although you may have to reapply it after a couple of refills. 

Along with using Teflon tape for its original purpose — to stop leaks — it also works as a physical barrier. Physical barriers are a common tool used in integrated pest management, and while it seems like, with the lure of sweet nectar, nothing can stop ants, Teflon tape will do the trick. Since it's slippery, it can stop ants in their tracks.

Using Teflon tape to stop leaks in your hummingbird feeder is an elegant solution that seems obvious once you know about it. However, using Teflon tape to create a slippery surface that ants can't cross is a little more out-of-the-box. The way ants can climb on almost any surface is amazing, and although it's still a bit of a mystery how they can stick to vertical surfaces, scientists have found that the claws, hair, and pads on their tiny feet help them grip almost any surface. Teflon surfaces are generally too slick for ants to cross. 

Keeping ants is a growing hobby, and while it might seem weird to some, it's worth mentioning because a technique used by antkeepers provides proof that PTFE works. Since ants have a hard time crossing the smooth surface, ant keepers sometimes coat the tops of their cages with PTFE to make them escape-proof. Applying this same concept to a hummingbird feeder offers a simple, low-cost solution. Teflon tape is inexpensive, so if you don't have the best hummingbird feeder and it needs a little help, you can pick up a roll of Harvey's Thread Sealing PTFE Plumber's Tape at Home Depot for less than $1. One roll is more than enough to fix your hummingbird feeders all season long.