The best how to keep wasps away from pool is to limit the number of places they can land and nest. Wasps usually make nests in dark, secluded areas, such as underneath eaves and overhangs, behind window frames, and inside hollow trees. To keep them away from your pool, you should inspect any dark places.
Why Are Bees and Wasps In My Pool?
Wasps are incredibly helpful creatures, but it can be disconcerting to have them buzzing around your pool. Why are these insects so attracted to your water? The answer lies in the fact that they need water to keep their bodies functioning.
Water is a vital resource for bees and wasps, allowing them to survive in warm temperatures and regulate their internal temperature. It also helps keep their hives cool during the summer by providing a thin layer of water on top of the cells with larvae and eggs. Afterward, worker bees fan their wings to create air currents that disperse the evapor.
Honey bees actually will die after stinging you. This is due to the fact that when pulling out of the sting, they lose part of their abdomen. Stinging you will likely be their last resort, because their instinct is to stay alive.
9 Ways To Keep Wasps and Bees Away From Your Pool
Use a decoy nest (Wasps)
One of the most effective ways of keeping wasps away from your pool is by using a decoy nest. Wasps, being naturally territorial insects, will avoid areas where other nests are present. To make a nest, grab a brown paper bag and blow it up into the shape of a nest.
Use diesel fuel (Wasps)
The temptation of diesel fuel for wasps is a strange yet fascinating phenomenon. Wasps are drawn to the smell of diesel fuel and will fly directly into a bottle if it contains the fuel. This behavior has been observed in many species of wasps, particularly paper wasps and hornets.
So if you have any diesel fuel to spare, fill a small bottle with it and leave it either near the wasp nest (if you have one) or wherever they congregate.
Use raw meat (Wasps)
Food and garbage can attract pesky wasps and yellow jackets.
Have you ever seen the huge swarm of wasps that often accompany a summer barbecue? It can seem like they’re out to ruin the party, but the truth is that these pests are actually just looking for a meal. Wasps love the taste of raw meat and will fly in great numbers to any place where they can find it.
Be sure not to leave the meat out for too long though, as it will eventually rot and attract other bugs like maggots and flies.
Remove nest (Wasps)
This is the most direct way to solve your wasp problem. But if you choose this method, preparation and safety is everything:
- Purchase a wasp killer spray from your local home & garden store.
- Locate the nest.
- Wait until nighttime, when the wasps are least active, and spray the nest from as far away as possible.
- Continue spraying the nest each night until it’s no longer active
- Once wasps are gone, physically remove the nest.
Make a bee/wasp bottle trap
Making a bee or wasp bottle trap is an effective yet creative way to reduce a population of these insects. Depending on your intentions, it can also be humane and non-lethal. To make this trap, you will need a 2-liter plastic bottle, some sugar water or honey, and a few other materials.
How to make a bee/wasp trap:
- Use scissors to cut the top off of a soda bottle
- Remove cap from top
- Grease the inner opening of the bottle top (this makes it harder for the insects to crawl out)
- Insert the removed top into the bottle, cap end first like a funnel
- Fill 1/4 of the bottle with bait (sugar water, sugar & lemon juice, soda, syrup)
- To make the trap no kill, use only a small amount of bait (not enough to drown insects)
Use lemongrass and mint (Bees)
Using lemongrass and mint are a great natural way to keep bees away from the pool. These two plants have strong and distinct aromas that bees do not like, making them an effective repellent. For best results, place whole lemongrass stalks or cut mint near the pool area in pots or containers.
Use dryer sheets (Bees)
Using dryer sheets as a natural repellent against bees is a great option. Place baskets of dryer sheets around the pool in decorative bins to help add an aesthetically pleasing touch while also helping keep bees away. Dryer sheets contain a strong scent that drives away insects, but they’re not an unlimited repellent.
Create alternative water source
As a pool owner, you may have noticed that your water attracts different types of insects, including bees, hornets, and wasps.
The best way to deter bees and wasps from your pool area is to create an alternative water source for them. This can be done by placing a bucket or bird fountain nearby. You should fill the container with fresh water, so that the bees and wasps will be attracted to it instead of the chlorine odors around your pool.
In addition to creating an alternative water source, it’s important to make sure the bees and wasps are familiarized and accustomed to this new source. If you have a pool in your backyard, it is best to introduce the water source before you open it up for the season.
Call a beekeeper
When it comes to getting rid of a bee’s nest in your pool, calling a beekeeper is often the best solution. Beekeepers are professionals trained in humanely relocating bees and their nests. They will come to your home and use specialized equipment to safely remove the bees and their hive from your pool with minimal disruption.
Call a Local Beekeeper If you’re only seeing an occasional bee flying around the pool, it’s not a big problem.
Fox Pest Control has decades of experience removing bees, wasps, hornets, and other flying, stinging insects from pools and yards, and helping provide homeowners the peace of mind to enjoy their outdoor spaces.
Natural Methods for Keeping Bees Away from Your Pool
Bees play an important role in our ecosystem as pollinators, making them essential for providing us with a stable food supply. Unfortunately, their presence near or inside your home can be dangerous, especially if you have someone in the household who is allergic to bee stings. To keep bees away from your pool and make sure everyone enjoys the outdoor.
Drain Your Pool
When dealing with a bee infestation in your swimming pool, one of the most straightforward solutions is to drain the pool temporarily. Without water present, the bees will be forced to move on and locate a new source of water. It generally takes about one or two weeks for their flight pattern to break and disperse.
Invest In A Pool Cover
Pool covers can be a great solution when it comes to bee-proofing your pool. Investing in a pool cover is worth the cost as it not only blocks the access of bees but also keeps your pool clean and free from other pests like mosquitoes.
Have Another Source Of Water
If you’ve noticed a beehive or bees near your property, it’s important to take action in order to get them away from your pool. Giving the bees an alternative source of water is the best way to do this. While you can use an old bird bather for this purpose, something as simple as a bucket filled with water.
Keep Flowers Away From The Pool Area
Flowers are a lovely addition to the pool area, but it is important to keep them away from the pool itself. Not only can they make the area look cluttered and unkempt, they can also attract bees that can be a nuisance. The sweet scent of nectar will draw bees to any flowers planted near your pool.
Add Plants That Repel Bees
Adding certain plants to your area can be a great way to keep bees away. Lemongrass, eucalyptus, mint, and wormwood are all plants that bees have a strong aversion to. These plants produce scents that are extremely unpleasant for bees and will usually keep them away from areas in which these plants are present.
Create A Soap And Water Spray For Bees
Creating a soap and water spray for bees is an effective way to get rid of them in your pool area. To make the solution, mix one part dishwashing soap with four parts lukewarm water. This mixture should be transferred to a plastic spray bottle. Once filled, the spray can be used on bees that are swarming around.
Add Vinegar To Your Pool
Adding vinegar to your pool water is an easy and effective way to keep away unwanted bees. It works by creating a taste that is unpleasant for them, and they will look for another water source instead. To use this strategy, simply add a few tablespoons of vinegar per gallon of water in your pool.
Use An Algae Control Product
Algae control products are a great way to get rid of bees that are attracted to your pool. These products work by lowering the surface tension of the water, making it impossible for the bees to land and collect water from the pool’s surface. When they attempt to do so, they will sink and drown instead.
Natural Methods for Keeping Wasps Away from Your Pool
Wasps can be a real nuisance when they decide to make your pool area their new home. Natural methods such as hanging twigs and string around the pool, using plants with scents that wasps dislike or placing wasp traps around the perimeter of your pool are all effective ways to deter wasps from wanting to come near.
Chemical Solutions for Your Bee/Wasp Problem
Chemical solutions have become increasingly common for those who are looking to rid their pools of bees and wasps. Chemical products, such as pesticides or insect repellents, can be an effective way to deter these insects from returning to your pool. However, it is important to understand that using chemical-based products may lead to an unfortunate result.
One of the most popular types of insecticides used to control bees and wasps is pyrethroid-based. This type of pesticide is highly effective against ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, fleas, and many other pests. However, some formulations of pyrethroid insecticides can be particularly toxic to bees and wasps.
Pyrethroid-based insecticides are designed to be lethal to pests upon contact, and when used correctly can be highly effective. However, it is also important to understand the risks associated with using these chemicals. For example, if used improperly or excessively, pyrethroid insecticides can have adverse effects on beneficial.
Closing thoughts
Once the bees and wasps have been taken care of, keeping your pool clean can become a challenge; however, it doesn’t have to be! There are plenty of common household products you can use to keep your pool sparkling all summer. Balancing your pool water is also much easier when you stick to a schedule.