Paper wasps have been invading local pools making swimming a less than enjoyable experience for pool owners. Many homeowners have taken to community social media pages asking for advice. Valley Vibe asked the experts for tips on mitigating the problem.
“Wasps going to a pool is one of the toughest battles I’ve faced over the 30 years I’ve been doing this,” said David Coleman, of Precise Pest Solutions. And, Murphy’s Pools owners Josh & Amber Murphy said wasps are a very common problem this time of year, which usually brings in dozens of requests from pool owners asking for help.
Finding out where the nest is, if there’s one on your own property, is the best place to start, Coleman said. “Watch which way they go and start contacting neighbors along the route they are flying to try to figure out where the nest is,” he told Valley Vibe. Precise Pest Solutions also performs bee/wasp nest removal in addition to pest control.
Finding out where the nest is the best place to start when you start seeing an influx in paper wasps around your home says David Coleman owner of Precise Pest Solutions.
Coleman cautioned the use of special products by companies claiming to “solve the issue,” adding that he’s purchased many over the years with little to no success.
Some residents say adding Skill-It algaecide to their pool water changes the composition of the water and has helped keep the wasps away. Murphy’s Pools owners caution homeowners with trying different chemical options, as it can cause problems in the pool filter. Instead, they recommend adding pool salt to the water to eliminate the pool as a source of fresh water, stating they’ve had decent luck with this option, but it’s not a guarantee.
Coleman said he personally keeps a spray bottle filled with Dawn dish soap and water at the ready and sprays the wasps as they enter the pool.
By Valley Vibe Staff Writers
info@valleyvibenews.com
