Wasps are a common sight around swimming pools during warmer months. While the presence of water is a primary factor, the type of pool, whether saltwater or chlorinated, is often less significant than other elements in the environment. Understanding the underlying reasons for wasp attraction can help pool owners manage their presence.
Why Wasps Need Water
Wasps, like most living organisms, require water for various biological processes, including essential hydration. They frequently seek out water sources to quench their thirst, especially during hot weather. Beyond drinking, wasps also utilize water for cooling their nests through evaporative cooling, which helps maintain a stable temperature within the colony.
Water is also crucial for nest construction. Many wasp species, such as paper wasps, mix water with chewed wood fibers to create the papery material for their nests. Mud daubers, another type of wasp, use water to soften mud for their distinctive nests. Adult wasps even collect and transport water back to the nest to provision their developing larvae.
Saltwater Versus Other Pools
Wasps are generally drawn to any accessible body of water, meaning they are attracted to both chlorinated and saltwater pools. The primary appeal is simply the availability of a water source, rather than a specific chemical composition. While some suggest wasps might be attracted to the odors emitted by pool chemicals, including those from saltwater systems, the low salt concentration in a typical residential saltwater pool is not a significant attractant or deterrent in itself.
For instance, ocean water contains approximately 35,000 parts per million (ppm) of salt, whereas a saltwater pool typically operates with a much lower salinity, ranging from 2,700 to 4,000 ppm. Insects can tolerate a wide range of salinity in water due to their physiological adaptations, suggesting the salt content itself does not specifically draw them to these pools.
Additional Poolside Attractors
Beyond the water itself, several other factors around a pool area can attract wasps. Sweet substances are particularly enticing to wasps, including sugary drinks, food residues, and fallen overripe fruits. Wasps are also drawn to protein sources, especially in spring and early summer when they are foraging for their developing larvae. This can include meat scraps from barbecues or outdoor pet food.
Additionally, certain plants, especially flowering ones or those with strong scents, can attract wasps to the pool vicinity. The presence of potential nesting sites near the pool, such as under the rails of above-ground pools, can also contribute to their presence.
Strategies to Deter Wasps
To minimize wasp presence around a pool, several practical strategies can be implemented. Removing all food and drink spills immediately and ensuring trash bins are tightly sealed can reduce their attraction to sugary or protein sources. Providing an alternative water source away from the pool, such as a shallow dish with pebbles for landing, can redirect thirsty wasps.
Certain scents are known to deter wasps; placing plants like peppermint, eucalyptus, citronella, mint, basil, lavender, or lemongrass around the pool area can be effective. Hanging decoy wasp nests can also exploit their territorial nature, as they tend to avoid areas where they perceive another colony is established.
Maintaining overall cleanliness, covering the pool when not in use, and using wasp traps can further reduce their numbers. If a wasp problem is severe or involves active nests, professional pest control services may be necessary.