Helicopter Sprays Length Of Schuylkill River To Fight Biting Gnat Populations

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — The Department of Environmental Protection launched a helicopter last week to spray much of the Schuylkill River with an anti-biting gnat larvicide.

The operation took place on Thursday, June 15 and covered Montgomery, Chester, Berks, and Schuylkill counties, the DEP said. The spraying was administered from Landingville Dam in Schuylkill County to the City Avenue Bridge in Philadelphia.

Authorities used a larvicide spray called Vectoac 12AS, which is a naturally occurring bacteria, according to DEP officials. The bacteria kills the larval form of the biting gnat when it is ingested.

The spray was not applied to the entire length of the river, but only every few miles. Authorities said the spray was a brown liquid that has an odor of fish oil.

Image via Pennsylvania DEP