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A new study from Virginia Tech reveals that everyday pet dogs can be trained to detect the eggs of the invasive spotted lanternfly, a pest causing significant damage to crops and forests in the United States. The study, published in the journal PeerJ Life & Environment, found that volunteer dog-handler teams could achieve detection success rates similar to those of professional conservation dogs.
The spotted lanternfly, native to Asia, was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since spread to 18 states. It poses a threat to agriculture by feeding on sap and leaving excrement that attracts harmful pathogens. According to Science Daily, the study involved 182 dog-owner teams from across the U.S., who trained their pets to identify the egg masses of the lanternfly. These egg masses are often hidden and resemble mud smears or lichens, making them difficult for humans to find.
The dogs were trained using devitalized egg masses and tested in both indoor and outdoor environments. In controlled tests, the dogs correctly identified the egg masses 82 percent of the time, while in real-world field trials, their accuracy was 61 percent. Despite the drop in accuracy outdoors, the dogs still outperformed human searches. Atmos Earth reports that the study highlights the potential of using pet dogs as a cost-effective solution to combat the spread of the spotted lanternfly.
Sally Dickinson, the study's lead author, emphasized the role of citizen scientists and their dogs in conservation efforts. "With proper training, dog owners can turn their pets into powerful partners for conservation," Dickinson said. The study also suggests that trained pet dogs could help detect other agricultural pests, such as powdery mildew, with high accuracy. Northern Virginia Magazine notes that this research empowers dog owners to contribute to environmental protection efforts in their communities.