We're having a bee problem (lack of them), at least here in Cali, so maybe a sign pointing them west would help. :D

Brenda

We get bee's, hummingbirds, and yellow finchs.

They don't seem to be going to the water so much.

Call your local pest control and the will locate and remove the bees for you and if you're lucky they will give you the honey comb leftover.

Bees don't bother me though.

I am allergic to bee stings, and I have hundreds of them visiting the far side of my 8' wide pond. They are very busy and leave me alone. I leave string algae over there for them to land on to drink so that they don't come to "my side".

The outlet is too close to the pond for bug spray. I was able to get a plastic bag over the box and duck taped it to the wooden post the box is mounted on. The bag prevents the wasps from entering or leaving their nest. I'm hoping the lack of air will eliminate them. I don't mind them near the pond, but the nest is preventing me from unplugging my pumps at the outlet.

If you have put plastic all around the box, I wonder if you could mist some "bug bomb" into the airspace.

It wouldnt need a whole can but a good jet ought to do the trick.

Or contact the electric company and see what they would recommend for killing them. Certainly you aren't the first to suffer this problem.

I think their inability to leave the nest area did them in, but it could have been a lack of oxygen as well. At any rate, if they return I would certainly use the plastic bag and duck tape again. It took several days, but I didn't have to use any bug killer near the pond.

Cruzer, I've had hundreds of different bees in my gardens this summer, bumbles, carpenters (which get huge!), small metallic green and blue beauties, honey bees, and a multitude of other types. Nothing seems particulary aggressive even at the bird bath. this is the first year I really didn't notice them drinking from the pond. Maybe the guppies I put in are to aggressive for them. Hope you're problem ends soon, I think something that would make the water unpalatable for them might do the trick. But you don't want to make it a problem for your fish too.

chaz

Bees are in trouble. If you have a colony in your yard and don't want them, why not contact a beekeeper to take 'em away?

I did pour some white vinegar around the pond the other night and they left, but I hosed off the rocks today when I woke up to an empty pond from my dog knocking the diverter frog ;-) I put some RX bottles out there with white vinegar soaked in cotton balls to see if that helps keep them away. I do have a bird bath and a kiddie pool for the dogs, but the bees just showed up this week in force.

The first three years we had the house before the yard was landscaped we had wasps and yellow jackets everywhere. We hung those yellow thingies and it helped to put them in check. I sadly never noticed bees, they are dieing off in UT for no reason. We need bees, can't survive without them pollinating our food. They are not aggressive like wasp, and yellow jackets (except the Africanized).

Since I put the pond in I have happily noticed a huge amount of bees coming to the pond and almost no wasps or yellow jackets in the yard.

I am so happy to see them. I have even rescued several who attempted to drown themselves in the pond.

I work around the pond up close and personal with the bees, but they don't seem to pay me any attention. Word may have spread that I am a bee rescuer ;). We have two small dogs (under 10 lbs) and the bees don't seem to bother them either.

I am ecstatic that my wasp and yellow jacket population has been replaced with honey bees.

Let the honey bees live in peace, they need all the help they can get.

my next step is to put some arowanas and archer fish in the pond who will eat the bees. i'm sure that wont stop them from coming though
really want these wasps gone!

Just scoop those wasps right out of the air so you can enjoy your yard immediately.

Swatting bare handed is tough and you gotta crush them before they sting.

Mostly I use a dip net and it works well.

My net was made with a four foot handle (bamboo garden stake), a ten inch wire loop (coat hanger), and a two foot long tapered net stitched from bridal veil mesh (fabric shop).

The caught bugs can be kept in the long netting by folding over. This is handy for collecting wasps as they show up during a picnic, or chasing down flies and mosquitos that sneak into the cottage.

The bugs can be drowned by dipping in water and feeding to the pond fish/ Or lightly crushed in the net (I hate cleaning up smooshed bug guts).

A neighbour made a nicer version using a cheap badminton racket frame.

Some koi nets might be usable.

I have seen dip nets in toy stores and dollar stores that are designed for kids to catch butterflies and creek critters. If the netting is too short it is easy to replace with longer netting.

Battery operated bug zapper stunners that look like small tennis rackets are sold in some of the larger Asian grocery marts/stores.

For me the net is enough to deal with wasps that show up while I am in the yard.

Cheers

Me? I'd be tromping through my neighbors' yards on a witch/wasp hunt with or without advance notice. 'Course I've known them all for years so not suggesting this is wise for everyone, lol. Failing that, try calling your county extension agent for direction. CSA's are a highly UNDERutilized resource & the keepers of a wealth of information specific to your locale. You might just be surprised at what you learn.

blessings,
~digger