[Northampton County, PA] – An aerial black fly (gnat) suppression operation is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, 2025, on the Delaware River and the Lehigh River. The operation will begin after 8:00 A.M. and will include flights in Bucks, and Northampton counties (this is weather dependent). The helicopter used for this operation will be a Bell 206 Long Ranger with tail number N660HA and is white with blue and red stripes.

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

• Delaware River between Slateford in Northampton County to the area near Trenton, NJ/Yardley, PA in Bucks County.
• Lehigh River at the Easton Dam at the confluence of the Delaware River.

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.

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.

Black flies, also known as biting gnats, are considered a pest that can inundate people seeking outdoor recreation in the warmer months, especially around rivers and streams.

For more information on the program, please visit the Black Fly Program website: Black Fly (pa.gov).

 

 

Information provided to TVL by:
County of Northampton
669 Washington Street
Easton, PA 18042
https://www.northamptoncounty.org/

 

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