Blue ceilings on open-air buildings fool wasps

[Saran Wrap]

I was recently told that if you paint the ceiling of a porch or gazebo a light blue, the wasps would think it was part of the sky, and not build nests there. Are wasps really that stupid? Can they even see color? The last time I was in a gazebo, I noticed that the nests were only on the white trim, not on the blue ceiling, but this could have been coincidence.

[Beachlife!]

Originally Posted by Saran Wrap

I was recently told that if you paint the ceiling of a porch or gazebo a light blue, the wasps would think it was part of the sky, and not build nests there. Are wasps really that stupid? Can they even see color? The last time I was in a gazebo, I noticed that the nests were only on the white trim, not on the blue ceiling, but this could have been coincidence.

I know the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island has the ceiling on it's expansive porch painted blue to fool the birds. Or at least that's what they say.

[AnglRdr]

Originally Posted by Beachlife!

I know the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island has the ceiling on it's expansive porch painted blue to fool the birds. Or at least that's what they say.

To fool the birds into flying into the ceiling?

That's not very nice!

[Beachlife!]

Originally Posted by AnglRdr

To fool the birds into flying into the ceiling?

That's not very nice!

Having seen birds repeatly ram themselves into windows it wouldn't surprise me. But they it stops them form building nests.

[snapdragonfly]

I've always heard that about the birds, too; it's an old Southern custom and probably in other areas.

I don't know if it's true either, but if you paint the porch ceiling a pretty blue, it doesn't matter what the rest of house colors are, it is *really* pleasant to sit under it. I don't know about the psychology of birds, but I have a strong suspicion that light blue ceilings do something to people - a nice something - because it's just, I don't know, happier feeling than boring old white (which is actually always gray looking due to shadows) or even a matching color.

As I am completely unafraid of the paint police, I have done some far out and wacky things like paint ceilings inside the house pale blue, even when it completely did not *match*, and it's amazing how neat it looks. I'm talking very soft and pale, not bright dark deep blues.

[Saran Wrap]

I certainly find the effect pleasant, and I intend to paint any porches I may own in the future a robin's-egg blue, whether it affects wasps and birds or not.

[Mr. Billion]

I was visiting my mom today and noticed a wasp building a nest on the light-blue overhang outside her light-blue house.

The image quality is poor, but here it is:

[Mr. Billion]

They've always built nests there, come to think of it. So it's not unusual at all.

[snopes]

Comment: Is it true that carpenter bees will not bore thur light blue
painted wood. In key west this is what said as we toured the town?