I have the same problem Bart1. I live in NOVA also, but have my orchard in WVA, which I can only get to on the weekends. To be specific, I have 46 peach trees that are in their 3rd year and are beginning to bear. The Hale Havens, red Havens and Belle of Georgias beared well, but the weekend I projected they would be ready they were not. The following weekend I went back to find nearly all the peaches had been "eaten". Now Im planning on waiting for my 32 Contenders to begin to ripen the first week of September, as usual. In my area, the weather patterns change enough that the bugs arent too awfully bad anymore and I get a good bit of peaches. We'll see what this year brings... After going to a couple orchards in Fauqier County Virginia,Im thinking this is a numbers game, because I see the same thing there. There will always be bees and ants that will get their fair share and I will eventually get "my fair share". Probably another year or so. Fortunately for me, I have no problems with squirrels in my part of WVA. They are hunted very hard. To be quite honest, Ive never seen a squirrel on my property...Im keeping my fingers crossed. Joey

It's interesting to me that those who design feeders to be sold don't take into consideration what design(s) work(s). They keep making junk because we keep buying it. In my opinion, there are three big no-no's in hummingbird feeders. 1) The holes through which the juice is accessed must be small: just big enough for the hummers and no more. 2) The distance from the top of the juice to the feeder hole needs to be too long for wasps and bees, but short enough for hummers to get access. 3) The feeder MUST NOT leak. Over the years I have fed thousands upon thousands of hummers.

I don't know if that trap is safe or not but would also like to know. It sure is pretty. I have wasps and then I have these small flying yellowish things that sting. I have noticed them going after my hummers when they go to this one feeder and need to take care of that.

It's not a Hornet nest that's for sure, it's a type of Mud Dauber. Mud Daubers are good to have around, they put Black Widows in their mud nest for their young to eat which makes them immune to the venom of the Black Widow.