Should anything be added to the water in The Ant-Mote™, such as food coloring or soap?

No, birds and bees drink the water from The Ant-Mote™. Use only clean fresh water.

How often should water be added to The Ant-Mote™?

The water should not be allowed to go below ½ inch from the bottom of The Ant-Mote™ to ensure that no ants can get to the feeder. We recommend checking The Ant-Mote™ every other day when the temperature is very high. It also depends on how often the birds use it for bathing.

Where can I get a pole for The Ant-Mote™?

There are multiple places where you can find poles for The Ant-Mote™.

First, we sell kits for The Ant-Mote™ that include poles here.

Second, most of our retail partners carry The Ant-Mote™ and a selection of poles. If neither of those options is available to you, Ace Hardware, True Value, Lowe’s, and Home Depot carry our third recommendation, Schedule M copper tubing. Just be aware, for an outside diameter of ⅝” (.625”) it is important to look for a tube labeled ½” (.5”) inside diameter.

Finally, Erva, the preeminent garden products manufacturer based in Chicago, IL, has developed a line of garden staffs specifically for The Ant-Mote™ and compatible nectar feeders. These are available through their vast network of retail partners in 3’, 4’, 5’, and 6’ lengths, as well as a 2’ deck clamp. You can find more information as it becomes available on our stocklist page and on Instagram, @theantmote.

Does The Ant-Mote™ harm the ants?

No, if ants make it to the top edge of the ant moat and come in contact with the water they simply turn around.

I’ve tried other ant moats and use the integrated moat in my nectar feeder, but ants still find a way in. Why is The Ant-Mote™ different?

Our Ant-Mote™ design is deceptively complex and took us a lot of time and refinement to get right. The dish is sized to maximize water volume and counteract evaporation. Most other ant moats have a much smaller diameter which allows ants to easily bridge the distance. In over 3 years of testing The Ant-Mote™, ants have never bridged the water and infiltrated a pole-mounted nectar feeder that was protected with our ant moat.

What is the best way to clean The Ant-Mote™?

We refresh the water every day while watering the garden with the garden hose. Watering cans can also be used. After a storm, we recommend raising the Ant-Mote above the bushing and dumping the water, replace with fresh clean water. On the days you remove the feeder for cleaning, you can also remove the Ant-Mote and clean it with soap and water. We do not recommend cleaning The Ant-Mote™ in the dishwasher because it may damage the UV coating.

Sometimes when I re-install The Ant-Mote™ and fill it with water, it slides down the pole. What should I do?

When installing or re-installing The Ant-Mote™ it is important to make sure that the pole is clean and completely dry before putting on the conical bushing. But it is also important to make sure that the inside of the conical bushing is also clean and completely dry. Water reduces friction and may infrequently cause The Ant-Mote™ to slide. Once both the pole and bushing are dry and The Ant-Mote™ is seated firmly back onto the bushing, it will not slide down the pole. You can follow the steps on our installation page, here.

Is The Ant-Mote™ available in other colors?

At the moment, The Ant-Mote™ is only available in clear.

Does The Ant-Mote™ come in other sizes?

The Ant-Mote™ is only available in one size that perfectly fits a ⅝” diameter pole. We worked hard to design a product that is simple to use and holds enough water to be functional for an average of two days. You can find a list of compatible nectar feeders, here.

Is The Ant-Mote™ only available online?

No! While you can purchase The Ant-Mote™ directly from our website, our products are also available in a growing number of local retailers. You can find a list of all our retail partners, here.

Is The Ant-Mote™ dishwasher safe?

The Ant-Mote™ should not be cleaned in the dishwasher. We have found that the best way to clean The Ant-Mote™ is a wipe-down with mild dish soap, warm water, and a sponge or paper towel. We usually do this at the same time we give our hummingbird feeders their regular cleaning. We designed The Ant-Mote™ to be as easy to clean as possible. You can read more about what went into the design of The Ant-Mote™ on our blog. Cleaning The Ant-Mote™ in the dishwasher may damage the UV coating and The Ant-Mote™.

What is the best recipe for hummingbird nectar?

We recommend following the instructions from the National Audubon Society. https://www.audubon.org/news/how-to-make-hummingbord-nectar

You will need: ¼ cup of refined white sugar and a measuring cup.
Make sure you keep the nectar fresh and change it as needed. Change more often in hot weather.

My nectar feeder has an ant moat built in already. Why do I need The Ant-Mote™?

The built-in ant moat only works when using the supplied hook that came with your feeder to attach to a tree limb or shepherd’s hook. (And the built-in ant moats are small, hold limited amounts of water, and do not protect very well. When pole mounting you do not need the hook that came with your feeder.)

When you pole mount a feeder, the ant moat that is built in cannot stop the ants from coming up the pole! The Ant-Mote™ stops ants from climbing up the pole and provides significantly more water requiring fewer refills, AND, birds love to bathe and drink from it providing a real birding station in your yard.