For nearly 80 years, Clarke has been dedicated to making communities around the world more livable, safe, and comfortable. As a third-generation, family-owned company, we’ve built our reputation on sustainable innovation, technical expertise, and an unwavering commitment to our customers and the communities they serve. Today, we’re proud to announce the next chapter in that legacy – our acquisition of Becker Microbial Products and the complete AquaBac® larvicide line, including ownership of its proprietary Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti) strain.
This is Clarke’s largest acquisition in our history, and it represents more than just an expansion of our portfolio: it’s a critical opportunity for us to support our shared mission and innovate with products that vector control professionals have trusted for decades.
Product stewardship – working directly with our customers to best deploy our larvicides and adulticides responsibly and effectively – is central to us. Clarke stands beside our products and customers, providing the training, technical support, and commitment needed to protect your communities. With AquaBac® now under our stewardship, that promise extends to one of the most proven biological control actives in the field.
The AquaBac® single-brood larvicide line has long been a cornerstone of effective, environmentally responsible mosquito control, delivering proven efficacy across diverse environments, with OMRI®-listed options for use in and around organic areas.
By owning the technical registration for the specific Bti strain used in AquaBac® formulations, Clarke has the unique ability to support this product through ongoing research, development, and innovation.
This trusted, proven Bti active ingredient strengthens our portfolio and meets evolving customer needs across multiple markets, environments, and challenges,” said Laetitia Leroy, Director of Research, Development and Engineering at Clarke. “With access to the active ingredient, we have the ability to support AquaBac through research and innovation.
Clarke takes product performance seriously. Our ongoing research and field testing has generated compelling data through comprehensive laboratory studies, field trials, and competitive benchmarking.
This research included backpack field trials demonstrating superior AquaBac® performance against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, a primary vector of dengue, Zika, and other diseases, when compared to other Bti-based alternatives on the market.
In these trials, both AquaBac® WDG and VectoBac® WDG were mixed at 60 grams per gallon of water at 1.71% concentration. The method involved two downwind sprays with samples collected at distances of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 feet, compared with a swath width of 20 to 30 feet and a spray line length of 50 feet.
The results are clear: AquaBac® meets all equivalency standards for Bti-based products while at times delivering superior performance, demonstrating the reliability and effectiveness that vector control professionals need in real-world applications.
One of the most significant benefits of this acquisition is what it means for resistance management strategies. AquaBac® can be used as a rotational product with vector control products using alternative AIs to prevent resistance from developing in the first place.
With the addition of AquaBac®, Clarke now offers a full resistance management program. Our exclusive portfolio offerings include Natular® (formulated with Spinosad), AquaBac® (Bti) and Fourstar® (Bti/Bs), plus we represent distribution of Altosid® and Duplex® (Methoprene).
Clarke’s Natular and AquaBac go hand in hand, providing complementary larval control designed to reduce the risk of resistance to help keep our communities livable, safe and comfortable,” said Allen Gent, CEO and President of Clarke. “By adding AquaBac to our family of products, Clarke can offer customers more options for effective rotation strategies, paired with full-scale product stewardship including training, materials and operational support for AquaBac.
Clarke is excited to be stewarding the AquaBac® products and the proprietary Bti strain with the same dedication we’ve brought to vector control for nearly eight decades.
This acquisition reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation, partnership, and serving the global public health community. Our control consultants, field science team, and regulatory experts are ready to deliver the training, operational support, and field-proven guidance you’ve come to expect from Clarke – now with an even more complete portfolio of solutions.
We’re grateful to the team at Becker Microbial Products for building these exceptional products, and we’re committed to honoring that legacy through continued excellence and innovation.
For more information about AquaBac® or Clarke’s complete portfolio of larvicide solutions, visit:
Let’s talk about what a more sustainable mosquito control program looks like for you.
