The Consorci de la Ribera in conjunction with the municipalities of La Ribera, is working collaboratively and coordinating annual aerial treatments to minimise the presence of black flies. These treatments were carried out today, Tuesday 2 July 2024.
This action is part of the vector control service (mainly tiger mosquitoes, common mosquitoes and black flies) carried out by the Consorci de la Ribera in a total of 39 municipalities that are members of the consortium.
Mosquitoes and black flies do not recognise municipal boundaries, which is why a supra-municipal service in practically all the municipalities of La Ribera is essential to control this type of pest as much as possible.
The aerial treatment was carried out today by helicopter at a total of 15 difficult-to-access points along the Xúquer River, which will allow us to complement the usual treatment that can be carried out on the river by land.
Unlike mosquitoes, which breed in accumulations of stagnant or standing water, black flies lay their eggs and develop their larvae in flowing watercourses, and the most important flowing water area in La Ribera is the Xúquer River.
The product used in these aerial treatments is Bacillus Thuringiensis, which is a biological product, not a chemical one, and does not affect the quality of the water or the flora and fauna of the river in any way. Given the total environmental and health safety of this product, the organisations responsible for the river and the environmental authorities authorise its use in a place such as our Xúquer River.
The president of the Consorci de la Ribera, Josep Mur Díaz-Hellín; the president of the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta, Paqui Momparler; Amparo Giner Lorenzo, vice-president of the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Baixa; and Carmen Pérez Gaspar, president of the Sueca Agricultural Council, were present during the aerial operations.
With these actions to control the black fly, together with all those being carried out by the Consorci de la Ribera to control the tiger mosquito and common mosquito, we aim to minimise the impact of these insects on the public.
