I have an enormous problem with wasps in my swimming pool, made even
more annoying by the fact that none of my neighbours have the same
problem. We are just at the beginning of the bathing season and I have
this morning taken out over 75 wasps. The go in quicker than I can
take them out! I had the same problem towards the middle and end of
the 2004 bathing season.

I have tried all the chemical products available locally; I have laid
jam and honey down in the vain attempt to see where they fly off to; I
have searched high and low for a nest in trees, roof spaces etc; and I
have even created a "wasp friendly" zone following advice I found on
the net. I have also sprayed around the pool terrace, pool house and
nearby plants.

What I am looking for is proven methods of keeping wasps out rather
than a chemical that gives "one month wasp free swimming".

Hi Boxclever,
  
The most promosing solution I found is a product called "Bee-Tour?",
which I'm assuming you haven't tried. It's basically a bag or sack
that contains a biodegradeable insect repelling substance that is
extremely effective for bees/wasps and flies, but also other flying
insects. The sack/s can be attached to a pool umbrella, nearby trees,
or anywhere you wish near to your pool, and unlike other products it
retains its potency for weeks.
  
Bee-Tour Flying - What is Bee-Tour?
http://www.beetour.com/html/whatisit.html
  
  
Bee-Tour is available from: 
  
ECMG Incorporated
1314 Heigh Street
Paducah, KY 42002
Toll Free: 1-888-823-3957
E-mail:sales@beetour.com
  
Order page:
https://secure.dcisite.com/BEETOUR/ORDER_FORM.HTM
  
  
  
As to whether it is "proven" to keep wasps out, I can only support
this finding with positive testimonials:
  
Susan Tilman, R.N., Dyersburg City Schools
http://www.beetour.com/html/testimonials.html
  
William "Pug" McGuire 
http://www.beetour.com/html/testimonials_2.html
  
  
This person praises "Bee-Tour", and also recommends "Garlic Clips"
(for repelling deers!) :
  
"Hello, I have tried everything I could think of to repel wasps from
our patio and yard and I found something that really works-
garlic clips. You can find them at www.gardeners.com and they market
them for repelling deers. You clip them around or in the area you wish
to repel from and it creates a barrier that keeps wasps away. They
last for about 3-4 months so you do have to put new ones out 3-4 times
a year. There is a product called bee-tour www.beetour.com which you
can put in the attic and it repels bees and some wasps. During the
right season, If you put garlic and bee tour in the attic I don't
think any wasps or bees would choose to make a nest there. Also if you
are allergic you can take garlic capsules during the heavy wasp season
and when you perspire naturally it will repel most insects including
wasps. It may repel your loved ones too I don't know.. We had hundreds
of wasps out in our yard and up the hill and when I created a garlic
barrier most all of them left. Bee tour works great to hang around as
well. Good Luck! (I have tried citronella and it didn't work.)"
  
"Wasp repellent.. What to buy..."
http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/t-12712-Wasp-repellent-What-to-buy.html
    
  
Garlic clips can be ordered from:
  
http://www.gardeners.com/SiteMap/Offers/Garlic_Clips.htm
 
 
    
While studies have shown that Garlic can deter insects... 
  
See Colorado State University's report on garlic and its ability to repel insects
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/columnnn/nn030908.html
  
...the makers of "Garlic Barrier" insect repellent cannot confirm that
their product repels bees:
  
"We do not know. Neither ourselves nor any users have reported that
bees are repelled by Garlic Barrier. But, because bees are important
to pollination, we take the precaution of not spraying blooming plants
for fear that it might repel bees. Bees normally come to a plant
because of color, not smell and for that reason we do not believe that
Garlic Barrier does repel bees but we are not completely certain that
this is true in all instances."
http://www.garlicbarrier.com/facts.html
 
   
 
I hope you find this information useful.
   
If anything is unclear, please request clarification.
 
   
Best regards,
  
Jackburton
Google Answers Researcher
 
 
 
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Jackburton

Thanks for the swift and concise reply. 

I have ordered the BEE TOUR (you're right I havn't tried it before; I
should have been more precise and mentioned that I live in the South
of France so it's not readily available at local garden centers) from
the links provided.

I like the sound of the Garlic Clips (having found in the past that
crushed garlic on window sills absolutely repels mosquitos) but the
link supplied only ships to the US states. I shall see if simple
garlic cloves can do the same thing until such time as I can find an
international seller of the proper clips.