Dogs might be the key to getting rid of pesky spotted lanternflies before they even become a problem
Dogs may be the key to getting rid of these common pests
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- A new study has demonstrated that dogs can effectively detect the elusive egg masses of invasive spotted lanternflies, a pest threatening US agriculture.
- Researchers from Virginia Tech and Texas Tech Universities trained over 180 dog-and-owner teams to identify the camouflaged egg masses.
- In trials, 92 per cent of trained dogs successfully located the eggs, achieving 61 per cent accuracy in outdoor settings, which surpasses human detection rates.
- Dogs' superior sense of smell, tens of thousands of times more acute than humans', enables them to find the eggs without disturbing the environment.
- This canine detection method offers a vital tool in combating the spread of spotted lanternflies, which could cost the US grape industry millions of dollars in damage.