First Treatment for Black Fly to be Tomorrow
Carlisle, Pa. – The first aerial treatment for Black Fly (gnat) will be tomorrow, Thursday, May 3 and possibly Friday, May 4.
The treatment will be applied to the Juniata River, Conewago Creek, Swatara Creek, Conodoguinet Creek, Sherman Creek, Tuscarora Creek, Penns Creek and Middle Creek. Applications will begin at 7 a.m. in Adams and York counties, move up the Juniata River and end in Snyder County. Flights will be conducted in Adams, York, Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Juniata, Mifflin, Huntingdon, Snyder and Union Counties. The helicopter treating the Juniata River and creeks will be a green and gold Bell OH58 (Jet Ranger) with the tail numbers N367HA.
Helicopter Applicators Inc. will be dispersing Vectobac SC, 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 SC is a thick brown liquid resembling chocolate milk. The helicopter will fly low, near tree top level, and release the Vectobac SC at various predetermined locations on each stream.
More information on Black Fly treatments are available from the Cumberland County Vector Control/Weights and Measures office. This department oversees the surveillance and control programs for various nuisance pests, conducts a proactive mosquito control program, and partners with the State Black Fly and Gypsy Moth programs. Information on ticks and other household pests is also provided to County residents. Additionally, the department completes the testing and inspection of weighing and measuring devices, including fuel pumps, scales and devices used by commercial businesses. Learn more about the Department at www.ccpa.net/vector.