Sorry, forget who, but somebody asked about the paint on the ladder. I just bought cheapy 94 cents a can regular ol spray paint. I also bought a clear coat to spray over that.
We thought our problem was solved since we didnt see anymore. But today after a heavy rain, they are all over the ladder and in the pool again.

aaaaaaahhhhhhh, I could rip my hair out.

It was me who asked about the paint. Thanks.

It's very dry here. We've had NO rain in a long time and we have plenty of the critters.

I did notice that they don't seem to like really hot SUNNY days. It's been in the 80s and 90s here, and when the sun is on the pool in really hot days, there are hardly any thrips. But on partly cloudy or overcast days, even when it's really hot, they're still all over the pool. Maybe the sun makes the metal tubing too hot?

Cindy in KY

Well, like I said before, I wouldn't go to the trouble to paint anything. For some reason mine has disappeared. Could it be the rain that brings them on??? Not sure. ButI have alot of chlorine in my pool (pool stabilizer from walmart) I changed the filter in the pump. Those are the only things I can think of that got rid of them for now. BUT.... I have my litle bottle of "off" spray to get ready to spray and wipe down the rails and ladder if needed. Someone try this with the filter changein the pump and 2 stabilizer tabs in your pool, tell me if they are still there. Then we will know it wasn't that, that got rid of them. I'm kinda puzzled also, even more so now why they are gone but delighted they are gone and don't want them back

Oh forgot to tell you all. My mother in law works for the DNR. I posted a picture with one of my posts last time to show the name of these creature which they didn't call thrips, but the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) knew exactly what they were. Look back at my postings and you will see a picture and their name. Hope this helps everyone!

I viewed that photo and it was hard to tell since it is black & white, if these are the same bugs or not. I am positive though that ours are Thrips.
I bought a product at walmart called "Seven" and sprayed it all around the grass of the pool area. We have had a few here and there but nothing that was a problem for us. I honestly don't know if the spray helped or a change in weather but that is what we did.

Now we keep getting what I think is gnats, lots of them. I go out every morning and there are tons in the pool that I clear out. But I can handle scooping out dead bugs, not just live biting ones!

We have the same kinds of those gnats (I guess) now also. I am really wondering if it could be the weather. Spritzing the "off" on the handrails worked for the other bugs for us.