Are wasps/hornets/bees aggravated by my pool pump?

Jump to latest Follow Reply
RickRude

RickRude

Gold Supporter
May 16, 2022
104
Dallas
Pool Size
21500
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
I made it 35 years without ever getting stung by a bee, wasp, or hornet. Now two months into owning a home with a pool, I've been stung twice by what I think is a wasp while doing routine maintenance on the pool equipment pad. Both times on the same index finger. Both times, the thing lands on my finger, stings me, and is gone in under a second. All I've ever been able to see is the creature flying off into the distance. To the best of my knowledge I've not done anything to threaten them, and I've never seen a nest of any kind in the vicinity

I'm wondering if they're attracted to, or agitated by the pool equipment, like the sound of the pump. Sorta like how we'd always get massive ant piles up against the transformer boxes in my old neighborhood.

Trouble free, but not pain free.
 
Orion7319 said:
Unless it was a yellow jacket🐝 Those things are just straight up jerks…
Click to expand...
That's the truth! We have a pretty robust paper wasp population this year and seem to be EVERYWHERE...but they I have left them alone and they in turn have left me alone. They also hang around our pool equipment pad since there is a blooming crape myrtle next to it, but I have yet to be stung. SO...I think that there MIGHT be a nest nearby and they might think you a threat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Decoy205
Orion7319 said:
Unless it was a yellow jacket🐝 Those things are just straight up jerks…
Click to expand...
When I bought my house there were some carpeting bees on the wall of the master bedroom… we dealt with the bees long ago, but we never patched the holes. Last year some yellow jackets moved in… those things do t eat wood, but they do eat drywall… I took care of it, but my hand was hurting for about a month where the little devil stung me.
 
  • Angry
Reactions: HeyEng
Toxophilite said:
Only if you are near their nest. Otherwise, they have no reason to attack you. Check around real good and I bet you will find it, eventually.
Click to expand...
I'm beginning to suspect my next-door neighbors. They're kinda wheels off and don't do a great job maintaining the exterior of their home.
 
Also, since it's on the hand you are getting them, go back over your operations when you got hit. They tend to go to the part nearest them, and don't unless you are mere inches from it or bumped it. Later, I've been killing off many for the season, and most are just one or two buggers getting started. But, I've had larger ones and could stand feet from them doing the rumba to boom box music and they pay me no mind. They just don't like being touched or bumped.
 
RickRude said:
'm wondering if they're attracted to, or agitated by the pool equipment, like the sound of the pump. Sorta like how we'd always get massive ant piles up against the transformer boxes in my old neighborhood.
Click to expand...
If you have a heater - take off the side panels and look there. During the winter months I have found them to try to nest.
also, if you have a blower, they like to build nest on that underneath part of the bottom housing. Be careful when you look as they may swam.
 
AK- said:
When I bought my house there were some carpeting bees on the wall of the master bedroom… we dealt with the bees long ago, but we never patched the holes. Last year some yellow jackets moved in… those things do t eat wood, but they do eat drywall… I took care of it, but my hand was hurting for about a month where the little devil stung me.
Click to expand...
I got attacked by a swarm of yellow jackets in my backyard when I was around 7. Got stung over 50 times, wound up in the hospital for several hours. They pumped me full of Benadryl and prednisone. I slept for about 3 days… hate hate hate those things.
 
  • Wow
  • Sad
  • Like
Reactions: Wolfepack88, Snoobug, HeyEng and 1 other person

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
RickRude said:
I've been stung twice by what I think is a wasp while doing routine maintenance on the pool equipment pad.
Click to expand...

I'm a moderator on a beekeeping forum. I can tell you that "How to keep my bees away from the neighbor's pool / hot tub?" is a popular topic. :laughblue:

Generally, bees prefer water sources that are warm, are consistently available, and have a distinct odor (to bees, at least). Pools generally qualify on all 3 counts. The theory is that water with a smell makes it easier to give directions to other bees as to how to get to the water.

Bees are more likely to utilize a spot where water may collect, but not be the pool itself. So an equipment pad that might be always wet, but not "flowing" is a perfect spot. Perhaps a tiny leak might keep part of a pad damp.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Toxophilite and Newdude
4xWTub said:
I'm a moderator on a beekeeping forum. I can tell you that "How to keep my bees away from the neighbor's pool / hot tub?" is a popular topic. :laughblue:

Generally, bees prefer water sources that are warm, are consistently available, and have a distinct odor (to bees, at least). Pools generally qualify on all 3 counts. The theory is that water with a smell makes it easier to give directions to other bees as to how to get to the water.

Bees are more likely to utilize a spot where water may collect, but not be the pool itself. So an equipment pad that might be always wet, but not "flowing" is a perfect spot. Perhaps a tiny leak might keep part of a pad damp.
Click to expand...
They used to swarm the top and rails of my AG. Always wondered why my pool was the best drink in town.
 
I received my annual yellow jacket vaccination this morning. On my right pec (chest). :devilish::devilish: I've learned over the years to take a stick and move any bushes that might have a nest before I do any trimming, but this one got by me. Those suckers let me know. Then I got out the flamethrower.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: maxBR and Newdude
Texas Splash said:
I received my annual yellow jacket vaccination this morning. On my right pec (chest). :devilish::devilish: I've learned over the years to take a stick and move any bushes that might have a nest before I do any trimming, but this one got by me. Those suckers let me know. Then I got out the flamethrower.
Click to expand...
Yellow jackets usually build their nests in the ground. Wait until night when they are all back in the nest.. then use gasoline and the flamethrower ….
 
Texas Splash said:
I received my annual yellow jacket vaccination this morning. On my right pec (chest). :devilish::devilish: I've learned over the years to take a stick and move any bushes that might have a nest before I do any trimming, but this one got by me. Those suckers let me know. Then I got out the flamethrower.
Click to expand...
Got mad and took a hard rake to my hedge after one bit me. Took a long while for all those holes I whacked in the hedge to heal :)
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Texas Splash
If you can get a pic of the thing that will help determine what type of nest it is. As said above yellow jackets are nasty and usually live underground .

At dusk they usually return to their nest. You can put a screen with a hole in it. Dump a bunch of dawn soap down I the hole and then fill it with water to drown them. Or you can get two full cans of poison and fill up the hole to kill them.

We have yellow jackets, paper wasps, cicada killers and carpenter Bees around here. I hate all of em! But yellow jacks are the most aggressive.

Keep an eye out under eves and under anything that can hang a nest for the other types.

You can also put a trap near your pool equipment to catch ‘em.
 
Decoy205 said:
If you can get a pic of the thing that will help determine what type of nest it is.
Click to expand...
I've yet to locate any nest. And the things have disappeared so fast after stinging me I haven't gotten a good look. Best I can recall from my brief glimpses is that they're not fuzzy or striped. So not a bumble bee, unlikely a yellow jacket. I think the first one was black, and the second one was more brownish. Possibly a mud dauber then based on googling. I'll try to get a better look at the ones I see out there.

Thanks everyone for your info and for sharing your own personal battles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Decoy205 and Orion7319
Orion7319 said:
I got attacked by a swarm of yellow jackets in my backyard when I was around 7. Got stung over 50 times, wound up in the hospital for several hours. They pumped me full of Benadryl and prednisone. I slept for about 3 days… hate hate hate those things.
Click to expand...
With passion!!! My kryptonite!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Orion7319

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply