Wednesday, May 24, 2023

An aerial black fly suppression operation is scheduled for Wednesday, May 24th, on the Juniata River, Conewago Creek, Conodoguinet Creek, Sherman Creek, and Tuscarora Creek.  This operation will begin in Adams County at 0700am and finish in Huntingdon County. This aerial application will include flights in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, and York Counties. The helicopter will be a Bell 206 with the tail number N652HA and is painted light grey with orange striping.

Helicopter Applicators Inc. will be dispersing Vectobac 12AS, which is a Bti product manufactured by Valent Biosciences.  Bti is short for Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, which is a bacterial larvicide, not a chemical, and is the only product used in Pennsylvania's waterways for black fly suppression. Vectobac 12AS is a thick brown liquid resembling chocolate milk.  The helicopter will fly low near tree top level and release the Vectobac at various predetermined positions on each stream.