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New Detection Method for Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses: Trained Dogs Take the Lead

Growers and conservationists are now utilizing a unique approach to combat the invasive spotted lanternfly: specially trained dogs equipped to detect their egg masses. These egg masses, which overwinter in various habitats like vineyards and forests, pose a significant threat to valuable crops.

A recent study by Cornell University has highlighted the effectiveness of two trained dogs—a Labrador retriever and a Belgian Malinois—in locating spotted lanternfly egg masses. The dogs outperformed humans in forested areas adjacent to vineyards when it came to detection, while humans excelled in spotting these egg masses in the vineyards themselves.

First identified in Pennsylvania in 2014, the spotted lanternfly has since expanded its territory, infesting 18 additional states, including New York. This invasive species endangers a variety of plants, particularly grapes, apples, hops, and certain trees such as maple and walnut.

Angela Fuller, the lead author of the study and a professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, emphasized the severe impact that a spotted lanternfly invasion can have on vineyards, stating, “An infestation can lead to a mortality rate of 80% to 100% in vines during a single growing season.”

In addition to the direct damage to crops, these infestations lead to a steep increase in the use of insecticides, driving costs up by as much as 170% in a single growing season, according to Fuller.

For their research, Fuller and her team selected 20 vineyards across Pennsylvania and New Jersey confirmed to have spotted lanternfly infestations. They established specific transects for examination along grape rows and nearby forests. On one day, humans searched for egg masses, while trained dogs, accompanied by their handlers on different days, scoured the same paths to ensure the scents left by humans wouldn’t interfere with the dogs’ detection capabilities.

The findings revealed that humans discovered 1.8 times more egg masses than dogs in vineyard settings, where the female lanternflies deposit their eggs. “Humans found it easier to perform systematic searches up and down the vines and support poles,” Fuller noted, with people locating about 31 egg masses per hour compared to the dogs’ 24 egg masses per hour.

Conversely, in wooded areas where many lanternflies overwinter, the trained dogs excelled, achieving 3.4 times the discoveries of human searchers. “Dogs utilize their sense of smell to locate the egg masses, which gives them an advantage in complex environments where small, obscure objects might elude human sight,” Fuller explained.

During forest searches, the dogs found approximately 7.6 egg masses per hour, compared to 6.7 by humans. Despite the dogs spending more time on their searches, their efficiency in locating more egg masses underscores the importance of early detection for eradication efforts. “While the time invested in finding egg masses is a factor, the priority is ultimately on early and accurate detection to facilitate eradication,” Fuller added.

The New York Invasive Species Research Institute played a key role in co-leading this important study, which sheds light on a promising method to address the challenges posed by invasive species like the spotted lanternfly.

Source
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