06/23/2026
Low-flying helicopter to spray for black flies in York County on Wednesday, according to PA Department of Environmental Protection
An aerial black fly (gnat) suppression operation has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 24th, 2026, on the Main Stem of the Susquehanna River. This operation will include flights in Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lancaster, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, and York Counties.
This operation will start in Snyder County at approximately 0700am and work South towards Dauphin County. The helicopter will be a Bell UH1H with the tail number N638HA and is painted blue with white stripes.
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 liquid that is brown in color when dispensed from the helicopter. The helicopter will fly low near tree top level and release the Vectobac SC at various predetermined positions on the river.