Spraying Susquehanna River for Flies

[caddisflyer]

I am just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this spraying? I have seen them doing this for years and I cannot understand why it is apriority to apply an insecticide to our waterways? I see them spraying a heavy mist from a helicopter. Sometimes they come fairly close to us in the boat. Apparently the stuff is dangerous for humans. And what else does it kill besides the intended black flies? Seems crazy.

 

[jifigz]

I am just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this spraying? I have seen them doing this for years and I cannot understand why it is apriority to apply an insecticide to our waterways? I see them spraying a heavy mist from a helicopter. Sometimes they come fairly close to us in the boat. Apparently the stuff is dangerous for humans. And what else does it kill besides the intended black flies? Seems crazy.

Well, PA has the largest black fly suppression program in the nation. At least, I think that is accurate. Since I hate black flies, I am okay with. Plus, other aquatic insect life seems to be doing great. I have a feeling that they have a very effective means to target black flies specifically during a certain life stage.

 

[laurelrun]

I used the same soil bacteria when I had a private pond and it seemed to have little or no affect on other invertebrates or the fish in my pond. Here's the link to DEP's page about it. https://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/ProgramIntegration/Vector-Management/BlackFly/Pages/default.aspx

 

[afishinado]

https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/DEP_details.aspx?newsid=1876

 

[bringthepain]

Well, PA has the largest black fly suppression program in the nation. At least, I think that is accurate. Since I hate black flies, I am okay with. Plus, other aquatic insect life seems to be doing great. I have a feeling that they have a very effective means to target black flies specifically during a certain life stage.

I really hope this is sarcasm!

 

[jifigz]

I really hope this is sarcasm!

No, nothing I said was intended to be sarcasm. Why are you hoping it is?

 

[Bamboozle]

Bti for Mosquito Control | US EPA

Bti is used to control mosquito larva. View questions and answers on Bti and its regulation.

www.epa.gov

I'm OK with it as well based on facts and definitely don't miss the days when there would be streams of blood running down my face & arms and days of itching from black fly bites...

 

[riverwhy]

Does not seem overly harmful though it must impact the food chain.
This is the same thing that is in mosquito dunks. Has anyone used those around their house? How effective has it been?

 

[moodyblues]

Does not seem overly harmful though it must impact the food chain.
This is the same thing that is in mosquito dunks. Has anyone used those around their house? How effective has it been?

I use them and they work very well. The bacillus kills the mosquito lava. The same thing is used in bee hives to kill off the wax worms with no harmful effects on the honey bees.

 

[DaveKile]

I thought this was. good video explaining what is they are doing and the products they use.

 

[riverwhy]

I use them and they work very well. The bacillus kills the mosquito lava. The same thing is used in bee hives to kill off the wax worms with no harmful effects on the honey bees.

How many do you put in an area? I have three around my front porch and three around my back patio.

 

[Kms]

How many do you put in an area? I have three around my front porch and three around my back patio.

I have two buckets behind my house and the mosquito population has noticeably decreased.

 

[krayfish2]

I get insects that blow off the river here at my house. According to the stone flies, hexs, sulphurs and isos I get covered by, the spray isn't hurting other insects

 

[Kms]

For those unfamiliar, the standing water attracts mosquitos and black flies, and the bti kills the larvae. To my knowledge bti doesn’t affect any other critters.

Buckets are more effective if you can convince your neighbors to join the effort, as backyard mosquitos don’t travel far. HD Homer buckets are perfect and cheap.

Mosquito Bucket of Doom

Mosquito season is here! Instead of spraying pesticides onto our entire yards—and onto fireflies, ladybugs, bumblebees, and butterflies—why not kill *only* mosquitoes? But first: let’s PREVEN…

sidewalknature.com

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

For those unfamiliar, the standing water attracts mosquitos and black flies, and the bti kills the larvae. To my knowledge bti doesn’t affect any other critters.

Buckets are more effective if you can convince your neighbors to join the effort, as backyard mosquitos don’t travel far. HD Homer buckets are perfect and cheap.

Mosquito Bucket of Doom

Mosquito season is here! Instead of spraying pesticides onto our entire yards—and onto fireflies, ladybugs, bumblebees, and butterflies—why not kill *only* mosquitoes? But first: let’s PREVEN…

sidewalknature.com

This the best idea I've never heard anything about.

 

[riverwhy]

Mine hasn't been working that great. I didn't know you are supposed to add grass and sticks. Most of my containers are too small for that. I think I need to retool.
Regardless, mosquito joe ain't getting a call from me. I have seen them in action at a couple locations in my town. People must be crazy to do that.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

Calvert County, MD (a considerably swampy county tucked between a river and a bay) has trucks dedicated to driving through communities at about 5 mph and spraying for mosquitoes all through the summer. I get no fewer than three bites every time I walk the dog, so I'm going to give dunks a try.

 

[Kms]

Mine hasn't been working that great. I didn't know you are supposed to add grass and sticks. Most of my containers are too small for that. I think I need to retool.
Regardless, mosquito joe ain't getting a call from me. I have seen them in action at a couple locations in my town. People must be crazy to do that.

I use more than a handful of grass: probably two big handfuls of leaves. There needs to be enough material to rot and offgas sufficiently. I’ve also read that the black dots that accumulate are dead mosquito larvae, but I can’t (don’t want to) confirm that. I can confirm that I nearly always see a few of the little bastards flitting around on the water’s surface whenever I glance inside the buckets.

 

[riverwhy]

I need bigger containers. Actually using an old minnow bucket for one!

 

[Cznymph]

For those unfamiliar, the standing water attracts mosquitos and black flies, and the bti kills the larvae. To my knowledge bti doesn’t affect any other critters.

Buckets are more effective if you can convince your neighbors to join the effort, as backyard mosquitos don’t travel far. HD Homer buckets are perfect and cheap.

Mosquito Bucket of Doom

Mosquito season is here! Instead of spraying pesticides onto our entire yards—and onto fireflies, ladybugs, bumblebees, and butterflies—why not kill *only* mosquitoes? But first: let’s PREVEN…

sidewalknature.com

Correct me if I’m wrong, but black flies lay their eggs in moving water.