Black Fly spraying scheduled for Wednesday

LOCK HAVEN – Clinton County government has shared word that another state-authorized black fly spraying project will be conducted Wednesday along the West Branch watershed.

An aerial black fly suppression operation has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 25, 2021 on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and local streams including Penns Creek, Middle Creek, Loyalsock Creek, Pine Creek, and Sinnemahoning Creek. This operation will begin near Lock Haven at 7:00am and will first travel up river to Keating, then continue down river, ending Wednesday afternoon in Selinsgrove. This aerial application will include flights in Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Lycoming, and Clinton Counties. The helicopter will be a Bell UH1H with the tail number N638HA and is red with yellow striping.

Helicopter Applicators Inc. will be dispersing Vectobac 12AS, which is a Bti product manufacturedby 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 12AS at various predetermined positions on the river. Attached is a copy of the Vectobac label and an SDS sheet in case you would need information on the product.

If you have any questions regarding these operations or the Program in general, please contact 570-327-3782 or email krbrown@pa.gov.