On Thursday, June 23, 2022, the Neshaminy Creek from Playwicki Park in Langhorne to the 611 Bridge South of Doylestown in Bucks County will be treated, beginning approximately 8:00AM. This is in conjunction with the planned treatments of the Perkiomen and Schuylkill River.
PA DEP will be conducting an aerial black fly (biting gnat) larviciding operation along the Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Creek on Thursday, June 23, 2022; beginning at approximately 7:00am in Montgomery County. This aerial spraying activity will utilize a helicopter to apply Vectobac 12AS (also known as B.t.i.) into the aforementioned waterway(s) in Montgomery, Chester, and Berks, counties. (Philadelphia borders the work being conducted in part of Montgomery County).
The helicopter used for this operation will be N660HA, a white 206 Long ranger with blue striping.
The aircraft is operated by Helicopter Applicators of Gettysburg, PA. DEP personnel will be on site at all landing zones managing the operation.
Work on the Schuylkill River will take place between Leesport in Berks County and the City Avenue bridge in Philadelphia.
Work on the Perkiomen Creek will be from Oaks to Spring Mountain.
The B.t.i. material is a naturally occurring bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) that kills the immature (larval) form of the black fly when they feed on it in the waterways. This application of B.t.i. is not toxic to fish or other aquatic macroinvertebrates found in the treated waterways. The material is only applied to the surface of the water and not sprayed
This work does NOT involve a helicopter spraying over the entire county. This work is targeted to portions of specifically mentioned waterways. The helicopter will apply B.t.i. to the water surface at designated areas every few miles along the treated waterways. Application is done by first circling the area to look for people on the ground or obstructions in the air. Then, the helicopter will fly perpendicular to the water flow (whenever possible) and apply the B.t.i. material which is a brown, viscous liquid with a fish oil odor directly to the water.
More information about the program in general can be found on our website Black Fly (pa.gov)
- Click here for Vectobac 12as Safety Data Sheet
- Click here for Vectobac 12as Specimen Label