Researchers at Virginia Tech have demonstrated that dogs can effectively detect the invasive spotted lanternfly, aiding in efforts to control its spread.
Early detection of the spotted lanternfly is crucial, yet locating its eggs can be quite challenging. This is where dogs, with their exceptional sense of smell, come into play.
According to researchers at Virginia Tech, dogs may serve as a valuable ally in combating this invasive pest. For the first time, a study reveals that pet dogs can assist in halting the rapid proliferation of the spotted lanternfly.
The spotted lanternfly, which feeds on a variety of plants, excretes a sugary substance known as honeydew that fosters mold growth. Due to their destructive nature, some states have initiated campaigns urging residents to stomp on them whenever they are spotted. Experts emphasize that the most effective strategy is to eliminate their egg masses, which can be difficult to find as they often resemble dried mud and blend into their surroundings.
“Dogs have one dominant sense. It’s their nose. We use our eyes. Dogs use their nose like their eyes,” said Katie Thomas, a participant in the study.
Thomas and her nine-year-old pit bull mix, Finch, took part in the study with the hope of applying their years of recreational scent work to a pressing issue. They underwent both indoor and outdoor tests, successfully sniffing out egg masses, with Finch receiving recognition for his accurate detections.
“To be able to do things that we already do, that we are having a lot of fun with… train our dogs to sniff stuff, being able to apply that to something like a real problem that affects our community is really fulfilling,” Thomas remarked.
The spotted lanternfly is native to Asia and was first identified in the United States in Pennsylvania over a decade ago. Since then, it has spread to 19 states, according to the USDA.
“They are everywhere, and we need to search out the eggs. The problem is it’s too late once we have the lanternfly,” said Carolyn Shelburne, another study participant.
Shelburne and her nine-year-old border collie, Hermes, were among the first five K9 and handler teams to successfully pass their field tests. In total, 182 volunteer teams from across the U.S. participated in the study.
During indoor tests, dogs accurately identified the scent of the lanternfly more than 80% of the time. In real-world outdoor tests, they achieved a correct identification rate of over 60%. This performance surpasses that of most human searches.
“Hopefully, more people will see that you can train any dog to do this, and it gives you something fun to do with your dog,” Shelburne added.
Researchers are optimistic that this marks the beginning of a new role for dogs in protecting local environments. Even in regions where spotted lanternflies are not yet a concern, dogs could be trained to detect other invasive species.
Source: Original article