Can You Tell the Hummingbirds are Coming by the Insects You are Seeing?

Yes — certain insects reliably show up right before hummingbirds arrive. They’re not perfect predictors, but in Southeast, a few early‑emerging insects line up almost exactly with the first Ruby‑throated migrants. These insects appear when temperatures, day length, and nectar availability reach the same thresholds hummingbirds use to begin moving north.

Insects That Signal Hummingbirds Are Close

1. Small Flying Gnats & Midges

These are among the earliest insects to emerge in late winter/early spring.

- Hummingbirds rely heavily on gnats for protein during migration. 

- When you start seeing tiny swarms over lawns, near woods, or above shrubs, hummingbirds are usually within 1–2 weeks.

2. Mosquitoes (the very first wave)

Not the summer explosion — just the first warm‑weather hatch.

- Early mosquitoes appear when nighttime lows stay above ~50°F. 

- Ruby‑throated hummingbirds often follow the same warming trend.

3. Orb‑weaver Spiderlings (ballooning babies)

This is one of the best indicators.

- Hummingbirds actively seek spider webs for nest building. 

- When you see tiny silk threads drifting in the air or new webs forming overnight, hummingbirds are close behind.

4. Early Native Bees (especially small sweat bees)

These bees emerge when the earliest nectar plants open.

- Hummingbirds track the same bloom cycle. 

- If you see small metallic green sweat bees or tiny black bees on henbit, redbud, or early azaleas, hummingbirds are usually days to a couple of weeks away.

5. Early Butterflies (especially Eastern Tiger Swallowtails)

Swallowtails are often among the first large insects to appear in Georgia.

- Their emergence overlaps with the first Ruby‑throated arrivals. 

- They’re not a direct food source, but they signal that nectar plants and temperatures are right.

Bonus: Plant & Bloom Indicators (Even More Reliable)

These natural cues align extremely well with hummingbird migration:

- Redbud blooming 

- Henbit and deadnettle carpeting roadsides 

- Early azaleas opening 

- Serviceberry flowering 

- Buckeye leafing out

If you see these and the insects above, it’s time to get feeders out.