An aerial black fly (gnat) suppression operation is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, 2026, on Penns and Middle Creeks. This operation will take place in Union and Snyder Counties. The helicopter will be a Bell OH58 A+ Jet Ranger with the tail number N655HA and is blue and white with red and grey 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 liquid that is brown in color when dispensed from the helicopter. The helicopter will fly low near tree top level and release the Vectobac at various predetermined positions on each stream. Attached is a copy of the Vectobac label and an SDS sheet in case you would need information on the product.