- Local
- Community
- Journalism
Support the independent voice of Dallas and help keep the future of Dallas Observer free.
National Public Radio this morning ran a story about Dallas' mosquito problem -- specifically, the proliferation of aedes sollicitan, a large, aggressive salt-water mosquito that shouldn't be found 'round these here parts. WFAA-Channel 8 ran a piece about this bothersome breed a month ago, but NPR offers something new: a theory as to why these mosquitoes have landed in Dallas.
Seems some folks believe that the pest, which has a 100-mile range, are coming from the 25 acres of open salt-water ponds created by "the explosion of natural gas drilling in the Barnett Shale." (Who knew?) Of course, notes reporter Wade Goodwyn, that's just a theory; Dallas County's chief bug-watcher, Scott Sawlis, can't prove it -- not yet, anyhow. Goodwyn also notes that the aedes sollicitan isn't a disease-spreading insect. Oh, really? Not what it says here. --Robert Wilonsky
Keep the Dallas Observer Free... Since we started the Dallas Observer, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Dallas with no paywalls.