After battling ants for years in Encinitas, California, both on the citrus
trees and on the hummingbird feeders, I found that a simple non-toxic solution
was a product called Tanglefoot. Basically sticky goop that the ants cannot
crawl across, which doesn't hurt a tree. I goop up the eyescrew that I hang
the feeder from, as well as the wire. On trees or a branch, I would just ring
the tree with it. It has to be maintained every so often as once it gets
covered with dirt the ants can get across. You can find Tanglefoot at a garden
store.

Our only problem was we couldn't figure out a way to smear Tanglefoot all
around the base of the house to prevent the midnight raids on the pantry.
Luckily I finished school so we end our stay in the southern California ant
heaven.

Paul Wade
Lake Forest Park
paul.wade at noaa.gov