Conservationists have found a promising new tool in the fight against the invasive spotted lanternfly: trained pet dogs. Researchers at Virginia Tech have demonstrated for the first time that dogs’ extraordinary sense of smell can be harnessed to detect spotted lanternfly egg masses early, potentially helping to curb the pest’s rapid spread across the United States.
The spotted lanternfly poses a serious threat to agriculture and local ecosystems. These insects feed on a wide variety of plants, excreting a sugary substance called honeydew that encourages mold growth and damages crops and trees. Their destructive impact has prompted some states to launch public awareness campaigns urging residents to squash the insects on sight. However, experts emphasize that the key to controlling this pest lies in finding and destroying their egg masses before the insects hatch. Unfortunately, locating these egg masses is challenging because they often resemble dried mud and blend seamlessly into tree bark and other surfaces.
This is where dogs come in. With a sense of smell far more sensitive than humans, dogs can detect the scent of spotted lanternfly egg masses that would be nearly impossible for people to find. Katie Thomas, a participant in the study, explained, “Dogs have one dominant sense. It’s their nose. We use our eyes. Dogs use their nose like their eyes.” Thomas and her nine-year-old pitbull mix, Finch, volunteered for the research, leveraging their experience in recreational scent detection to help find the invasive insect’s egg masses.
The study involved a series of indoor and outdoor tests where dogs were rewarded for correctly identifying the scent of spotted lanternfly egg masses. Thomas expressed the satisfaction she felt in applying a fun activity she shares with her dog to a critical environmental problem, saying, “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.”
The spotted lanternfly is native to Asia and first appeared in the United States over a decade ago in Pennsylvania. Since then, it has spread to 19 states, primarily affecting regions in the Midwest and Northeast. The pest’s proliferation poses a significant threat to agriculture, forestry, and local economies. Carolyn Shelburne, another study participant, highlighted the urgency of early detection: “They are everywhere, and we need to search out the eggs. The problem is it’s too late once we have the lanternfly.”
Shelburne and her 9-year-old border collie, Hermes, were among the first five dog-handler teams to pass rigorous field tests designed to measure their ability to detect spotted lanternfly egg masses. In total, 182 volunteer teams across the country participated in the study, demonstrating a broad interest in using canine scent detection to assist with invasive species management.
The results of the study were encouraging. In controlled indoor tests, dogs correctly identified the lanternfly scent more than 80% of the time. In the more challenging outdoor environments, where the scents are less concentrated and conditions vary, dogs still performed impressively, detecting the egg masses correctly over 60% of the time. This detection rate surpasses that of most human searchers, underscoring the potential value of trained dogs in early pest detection efforts.
Shelburne hopes that the study’s success will inspire more dog owners to train their pets for this type of work. She noted, “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.” The benefits extend beyond just spotted lanternflies; researchers envision training dogs to detect other invasive species as well, helping to protect local environments from a range of ecological threats.
This innovative approach represents a promising step forward in invasive species management. By combining scientific research with the natural abilities of dogs, conservationists may be better equipped to detect and respond to invasive pests before they cause significant damage. As spotted lanternflies continue to spread, early detection and removal of egg masses will be essential to protecting agriculture, forestry, and biodiversity.
In summary, the collaboration between researchers, volunteer handlers, and their dogs offers a novel and effective method for combating the spotted lanternfly invasion. With continued training and deployment, dogs could become a vital part of the conservation toolkit, helping communities across the country safeguard their natural and agricultural resources from this destructive pest.