Whether you have Spheksophobia (fear of wasps) or just don’t want the pesky things around, wasps and bees around the pool can certainly be vexing. The fact is that wasps are most active during the summertime and will likely find themselves near your pool at one point. It may feel hard to believe, but wasps aren’t necessarily on the hunt after you! Wasps prey on other insects such as aphids, flies, and caterpillars, effectively keeping our insect population under control. And while not their main purpose, wasps do pollinate plants and flowers in a way similar to bees. Like how you shouldn’t kill bees, killing wasps cause more problems than it solves- no matter how “deadly” they may seem!
Still, just because wasps are beneficial to the environment, doesn’t mean you have to invite them to hang out by your pool all day! Before calling in a professional to remove the pesky critters, try resolving on your own first. You can try luring wasps away from your pool area by hanging raw meat (yes, like a steak or beef) in an area that will attract them away from your pool. A small amount that wasps can devour in a timely manner will do just fine.
As a preemptive measure, you may purchase “fake” wasps nests. These decoys work mainly if wasps haven’t started their nest yet. Since wasps are territorial, if they see other wasps have “built” a nest, they will stay away. Keep note of where wasps had their nests when they die out after summer, and before the Queens start becoming active in April – hang up the decoys where the old wasp’s nests were! It should work in deterring them from coming back.
If you are also having a bee problem, a beekeeper will gladly come and remove your hive for you. However, bees are not only less dangerous than wasps, but easier to get rid of. For instance, hanging up dryer sheets in baskets and other objects around your pool area is often enough to keep bees at bay (make sure you keep switching the dryer sheets out to keep them fresh). Bees are also often attracted to your pool simply because they are thirsty, so try providing them with an alternative water source to drink from.
(As always, use your own discretion when deciding if you can try to solve your issue on your own, or if you need to call a professional in straight away! Swim safely!)