Several years ago, I was inquiring with my exterminator about detering wasps and wasp nests at our house. We had them under almost every soffit. He said there is nothing that works as good as painting overhangs as painting overhangs the color of the "sky as raing approaches". As I am alergic to them I don't want them around if possible but there is no way in hell I am painting my house that color.

I am building deer blinds this weekend and will be painting the outsides olive drab. Got a great "oops deal" getting a $33/gal paint for $5.

Thinking back to one of the only annoyances to our old blinds in Berclair, the yellow jackets and red wasps seemingly built nests on a weekly basis under the floors, and on the ceilings of the blinds. So I my paint the undersides of surfaces on the blind deep blue sky color. Not knowing if my 5 yr old is allergic or not, and being a ways from a doctor or hospitial at the lease, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Has anyone had any experience with this, or observed painting like this to deter wasps building nests?

Use Demon WP insecticide. It leaves a powder residue that they will not nest on.

I've seen it done many times, and haven't noticed any nests. The idea has been around for quite some time I have just never done it for myself. It seems to work though.

Did it with only a few dirtdaubers and no aggresive wasps nests in over 20 years.

What color of sky blue did y'all use? Light, dark, royal?

Weve used it, my parents used it, and I remember my grandparents patio being painted sky blue too. It doesnt stop them all, but cuts down 90%+

Painting the ceiling of the porch also keeps the devils/ bad spirits out of the house-- at least according to some of our older neighbors. I don't want wasps or bad juju, so I painted. So far no wasps (or 360 degree head turning kids).

[This message has been edited by adpotts (edited 9/8/2010 12:24a).]

Look at the porches on old homes in the tourist districts of various towns. The porch ceilings are all painted a light blue. Spiders, wasps, dirt dobbers, they all go elsewhere.

I catch them in the spring with wasp killer when there is just one building a nest. I rarely see any more after that

I think the "blue paint keeps bugs away" theory is a bunch of hooey.

For one, I've knocked down more than my share of nests under blue painted porches. I also think that bugs don't see colors the same way we do.... and if they did, they would be able to tell the difference between a shaded porch and the sky.

light blue/ sky blue