PA DEP will be conducting aerial black fly (gnat) suppression operation in Neshaminy Creek

An aerial black fly (gnat) suppression operation is scheduled for Thursday June 12, 2025, on Neshaminy Creek, and the Schuylkill River. The operation will begin at approximately 8:00 am at Wings Field in Montgomery County and will include flights in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, & Berks, counties. (Philadelphia borders the work being conducted in Montgomery County on the Schuylkill River). The helicopter used for this operation will be a Bell Jet Ranger OH-58 with tail number N655HA and is painted grey with blue and red stripes.

Spray operations will specifically take place within the following sections of each river:

  *   Neshaminy Creek: From Playwicki Park, Langhorne upstream to the Rt 611 Bridge in Doylestown.

  *  Schuylkill River: From the City Avenue bridge in Philadelphia upstream to the Leesport PA area in Berks County.

Helicopter Applicators Inc. will be dispersing Vectobac 12AS, which is a BTI product manufactured by Valent Biosciences. BTI is short for Bacillus thuringiensis var. israilensis, 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 brown liquid with a fish oil odor. The helicopter will fly low near tree top level and will release the Vectobac at various predetermined positions on each stream. Vectobac is not toxic to fish or other aquatic organisms. Attached is a copy of the Vectobac label and safety data sheet in case you would need information on the product.

Please note that this work does NOT involve a helicopter spraying over the entire county and applications will only occur on the specific waterways listed in this notice. Any questions about information regarding the PA Black Fly Suppression Program can be found on PA DEP’s website at Black Fly (pa.gov)

SDS Materials sheets:
Vectobac 12AS Data Sheet
Vectobac 12 AS Label
View it on website