How To Keep Bees Away From Your Swimming Pool
Have you been noticing bees buzzing around your swimming pool? Do you know why they love your pool as much as you do? Are you wondering how they can be deterred humanely?
The warm summer weather means that honey bees are out-and-about foraging for nectar and pollinating flowers and crops. Basically, they are busy doing what they do best!
In addition to nectar, honey bees forage for water. That’s why they are so attracted to your swimming pool. You may also notice them around some of your other water features such as fountains and ponds. No matter if your pool contains freshwater or saltwater, bees will converge on your pool to access the water that they need.
Don’t let an influx of bees interrupt your sunbathing and swimming fun this summer! The more bees you have in your pool area, the greater the chances that you, a loved one or a pet can get stung. Bee stings can be dangerous, especially for those who are allergic. Any steps you can take to protect yourself should be taken this summer to ensure that your pool-goers stay happy and healthy.
How to Control Bees at Your San Diego Swimming Pool
At D-Tek Live Bee Removal, we care about safely and humanely removing bees. We don’t recommend using any harsh chemical products to kill bees, especially in or around your swimming pool. In any case, it can be a tough job to control bees at your pool. There’s actually no 100% foolproof method, trick or product that will do the job.
You may see a number of tricks online, such as planting mint or lemongrass around your pool area or using dryer sheets to repel honey bees. However, the best and most effective tactic is to help them find another water source.
What do bees use water for?
The honey bees are foraging for water to use back at the hive. Bees use water for a number of purposes. Water is used to cool the brood during the heat of the summer. It is also used by the nurse bees to help them produce the jelly that feeds the larvae. Water is also used in the winter to prevent the honey from crystallizing so it can be eaten by the bees.
Creating a New Water Source for Honey Bees
By creating a new source of water for the bees, you can help reduce the number of bees that come to forage water at your swimming pool. For the best results, it is advised to introduce the new water source early, before you open your swimming pool for the season. The goal of your new water source is to gradually draw the bees away from the pool while still protecting them and allowing them to pollinate as normal.
The water source can be as simple as a bucket or other container, a fountain or bird bath. Add a few sponges, sticks or rocks to the container to provide a place for the bees to land and hang out outside of the water. Whatever water source you are choosing, make sure that the water is not too fast-moving. Bees prefer calm water or a trickling stream!
Some homeowners choose to get a little more creative in making their alternate water source by building a bee pond. Large containers like barrels (or even half barrels) work really well for this purpose. In addition to the water, you can include other ingredients to help keep the pond running smoothly. Some recommended additions can include:
- Submerged plants (Elodea or Anarachis)
- Goldfish
- Mosquito fish
- Aquatic snails
- Above-the-water plants (Salvinia, Azolla, Frogbit)
If you can’t seem to keep the bees away from your pool, you may want to call in the experts. The technicians at D-Tek Live Bee Removal know how to safely remove bees without harming them. They rehome the honey bees with local beekeepers so they can continue doing what they do best!
D-Tek Live Bee Removal for Your Honey Bee Needs This Summer
Summer is vibrant with flowers and insects of all kinds, including bees! Make sure you take the proper steps to keep your family and pets safe from painful, and potentially dangerous, bee stings. When you begin to notice bees visiting your swimming pool during the hot summer days, you can try to distract them with an alternate water source as described above.
Or, you can call D-Tek Live Bee Removal at 760-224-3040 to talk to one of our experts about how to best handle your bee situation!