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Clarke will receive the award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. this evening. The award recognizes chemical technologies developed by leading researchers and industrial innovators who are making significant contributions to pollution prevention in the United States.

"This award is a wonderful recognition for the hard work of our research and development team, who were given the task of building a more sustainable larvicide from the ground up," said J. Lyell Clarke, president and CEO of Clarke. "By bringing new chemistries like this to mosquito control, our industry can reduce the pesticide load and reduce toxicity."

Natular is the first new chemical larvicide for public health in nearly three decades, and one that meets the highest standards for environmental stewardship. The active ingredient spinosad, discovered and produced by Dow AgroSciences, is in use in over 250 crops in more than 85 countries with additional uses in animal health and pet care. Natular has been categorized as a "Reduced Risk" larvicide by the U.S. EPA. Four formulations have been listed in the OMRI Products List (Organic Materials Review Institute) and can be used in organic production.

"Natular is a next-generation larvicide that has strong potential to reduce the pesticide load in the environment." said J. Lyell Clarke, President and CEO of Clarke. "It's prescription larviciding, using the exact amounts of active ingredients needed to control mosquito larvae, at toxicity rates far below other products. We don't have to sacrifice performance to be environmentally responsible – Natular delivers on both fronts."

By creating several proprietary tablet formulations with a plaster matrix that insulates and then slowly releases the spinosad molecule, Clarke has made spinosad formulations which can provide control for up to 180 days. This matrix is wholly comprised of compounds approved for use by the USDA in production of certified organic products.

Natular is effective at use rates two to 10 times lower than traditional synthetic chemistries, is 15 times less toxic than the organophosphate alternative, is not persistent in the environment or toxic to wildlife, and eliminates the use of hazardous materials and processes in its manufacture.

Registered for use domestically and abroad, seven commercial formulations of Natular have been created for use in larval control in a range of mosquito-control environments, from catch basins to salt marshes.

"We anticipate a significant shift in the mosquito control industry with the introduction of this product," said Clarke. "The real net benefit is reducing the overall synthetic load in the environment while contributing to the public health and quality of life in treated areas."

About Clarke

Clarke is a global environmental products and services company. A family-owned business based in Roselle, Ill., our mission is to make communities more livable, safe and comfortable for families around the world. We do this by pioneering, developing and delivering environmentally responsible mosquito control and aquatic services to help prevent disease, control nuisances and create healthy waterways. For more information, visit www.clarke.com.

Clarke Announces Unification of Business Units to Create a Centralized Management Structure

Clarke, a global environmental products and services company, today announced that it will be blending its domestic products and services business units for improved customer service and responsiveness.

"This water formulation is a colloidal suspension – which adds a tremendous new water-based option for the market," said William Jany, Ph.D., Senior Director, Global Public Health Resources. "When applied, nearly 50 percent of the droplet evaporates when it comes into contact with the atmosphere, but only the aqueous carries evaporates—not the active ingredients. Thus, evaporation makes each droplet more concentrated and impactful: a "hot drop." These aqua products have a tremendous kill rate, even at low rates."

AquaHalt™, with natural pyrethrin as its active ingredient, is an excellent choice for use near environmentally sensitive areas and crops, as it has no preharvest interval allowing it to be applied on the same day crops are harvested.

Initial operational field trials have shown improved kill rates with AquaHaltover traditional pyrethrin options – even when applied at low rates. Because it is formulated as a colloidal suspension, the droplets will not break down in high-pressure sprayers or settle out over time. And, spray equipment can be flushed out simply using traditional windshield washer fluid.

AquaAnvil combines the proven efficacy of Anvil™ with an environmentally friendly water formulation. Used in virtually every major mosquito disease outbreak in the U.S.since 1999, Anvil is the product of choice for superior adult control. With "hot" DOT technology, AquaAnvil optimizes more concentrated droplets which lead to improved kill rates – even at low rates.

AquaAnvil also provides a cool-season application advantage. Its unique temperature coefficient phenomenon gives improved control during early- and late-season applications – prime time for combating West Nile Virus.

Both AquaAnvil and AquaHalt have no reentry precautions and no special steps need to be taken by residents in areas where these water-based products are applied. Clarke's family of aqua products can be applied via ground or air, neat or diluted. AquaHalt and AquaAnvil are registered by the EPA for use in outdoor public health mosquito control and are widely registered in states throughout the U.S. They are available in 2.5 gallon jugs, 30 and 55 gal drums, and 275 gallon totes.

Clarke Mosquito Control, based in Roselle, Ill., was founded in 1946 as a garage-based home business of mosquito control products and services. Today, Clarke has grown to have an international presence and utilizes an integrated, science-based approach to mosquito control services and products for residential, commercial and governmental customers. It is the largest company devoted to mosquito control in the United States, and has played a significant role in the country's battle against West Nile Virus.

DUET combines two actives: sumithrin, the active ingredient in Clarke's signature adult control product, Anvil™, and prallethrin, known for its superior knockdown. These two actives work in concert to provide excellent control under a variety of operating conditions.

"Duet is a sophisticated dual-actionmosquito adulticide that combines the efficacy of Anvil with the exceptional knockdown of prallethrin, said William Jany, Ph.D., Senior Director, Global Public Health Resources. "Together, these two active ingredients offer superior control more quickly with faster knockdown."

Initial field trial and cage trial observations have shown that DUET causes "benign agitation" – a non-biting excitation of mosquitoes. Benign agitation has the potential to draw mosquitoes from a resting state – possibly including mosquitoes never before factored into efficacy calculations -- into on-the-wing activity.

"Benign agitation could be the key to a whole new approach to mosquito control," said Jany. "If benign agitation could activate more mosquitoes to fly out from under harborage, more mosquitoes can be impinged with droplets. "Which means better, more complete control with every operation."

DUET has the same environmental profile as Anvil, which is widely regarded as having minimal environmental impact. There are no reentry precautions for DUET and no special steps need to be taken by residents in areas where DUET is applied. Very little DUET is required for superior control -- it is applied in very low dosages of .41 fl oz/ac to 1.25 fl oz/ac of formulated product. In lay terms, one to just over three tablespoons of formulated product treats an area the size of a football field.

A distinct advantage for late-season applications, DUET also demonstrates an ability maintain its efficacy even in colder. This temperature coefficient phenomenon gives improved coverage for early- and late-season applications – prime time for combating West Nile Virus.

DUET can be applied via ground or air, and can be applied neat or diluted. DUET, registered by the EPA for public health outdoor mosquito control, and is widely registered in states throughout the U.S. Duet is available in 2.5 gallon jugs, 30 and 55 gal drums, and 275 gallon totes.

Clarke Mosquito Control, based in Roselle, Ill., was founded in 1946 as a garage-based home business of mosquito control products and services. Today, Clarke has grown to have an international presence and utilizes an integrated, science-based approach to mosquito control services and products for residential, commercial and governmental customers. It is the largest company devoted to mosquito control in the United States, and has played a significant role in the country's battle against West Nile Virus.

"FlightMaster™ boasts groundbreaking precision to increase efficacy and accuracy while reducing risk," said Dr. J. Lyell Clarke III, president of Clarke Mosquito Control. "This system is an important addition to the Clarke portfolio of products, and reinforces our commitment to provide customers with the latest technology and products with the least amount of environmental impact."

Background and Benefits

FlightMaster™marries with the Ag-Nav guidance system to integrate a constant stream of meteorological and GPS data, coupled with proprietary computer modeling that takes into account the specific target species, adulticide, and aircraft being used.

Together with the Ag-Nav system, FLIGHTMASTER constantly refreshes data to determine the next flight line for operational sprays, making it immediately visible on screen before the pilot turns into the next pass. FlightMaster™ eliminates a "flying blind" situation for the pilot by providing real-time data to ensure effective control in the spray block.

With the control of FlightMaster™, it is possible to pre-program spray exclusion areas, obstacles, and other in-air concerns and track the data on a built-in hard drive. That data can then be integrated with Ag-Nav or the Clarke VCMS® data management system to create maps, tables, and charts specific to each program.

"FlightMaster™ is so small and lightweight, it can easily be taken in and out of the cockpit to download each mission's data," said Clarke. "It truly was designed with integration and convenience in mind."

Clarke Mosquito Control led the development of FlightMaster™in collaboration with REMSpC Consulting, Ayr, Ontario, Canada, and Ag-Nav Inc., Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. FlightMaster™ will be used on spray missions by Clarke and its alliance partner, Dynamic Aviation.

Clarke Mosquito Control, based in Roselle, Ill., was founded in 1946 as a garage-based home business of mosquito control products and services. Today, Clarke has grown to have an international presence and utilizes an integrated, science-based approach to mosquito control services and products for residential, commercial and governmental customers. It is the largest company devoted to mosquito control in the United States, and has played a significant role in the country's battle against West Nile Virus.

A judging panel of Loyola professors and family-owned business leaders chose Clarke as the winner of the medium business category - one of five award categories - from a field of more than 70 applicants. In addition to business success, the awards recognize companies that have demonstrated positive family/business linkage, multi-generational family business involvement, contributions to industry and community, and innovative business practices and strategies.

Clarke, which started more than 60 years ago in the Clarke family's garage in Riverside, Illinois, is now one of the oldest and largest companies in the mosquito control industry and a third-generation family success story.

We're extremely proud of this award," said J. Lyell Clarke, president and chief executive officer. It recognizes our commitment to our business as well as our commitment to our values. Despite our size, we remain very much a family business and regard our employees as family members."

The award, presented to Clarke at an awards gala on Dec. 7, is the second recognition Clarke has received this year for its exceptional business practices.

The DuPage Business Ledger, a leading Illinois business publication, recognized Clarke this spring as the medium-business winner of its Annual Awards for Business Excellence, which honors excellence in business management and growth. Judges also looked for companies that reinvested in the community and fully developed the potential of its workplace.

Clarke studied biology at the University of Mississippi, and after his third year his father enlisted him to establish a mosquito control program in Allen County, Indiana, which had recently experienced an encephalitis outbreak. This experience encouraged Clarke's growing interest in entomology. Dr. Fred Knapp, a well-known professor of entomology at the University of Kentucky, became his mentor, and Clarke transferred to that school, where he earned a degree in entomology in 1978. After graduation from the University of Kentucky, Clarke received his doctorate from Iowa State University.

Clarke has played a number of roles at Clarke Mosquito Control, from product and service salesman to head of remote operations. Currently, as president of the company, he is credited with leading the company through a number of expansions and acquisitions, firmly establishing it as America's leading mosquito control firm.

Clarke Mosquito Control has been at the forefront of the mosquito control industry since 1946, offering services, products and equipment that aid in the control of mosquito populations.