CLEVELAND — An invasive pest known as the spotted lanternfly has been making its way across the United States, originating from its first detection on the East Coast a decade ago and now encroaching upon the Midwest. However, an innovative approach is being utilized to combat its spread: highly trained dogs with the uncanny ability to detect its eggs before they hatch.
In the Cleveland area, a quartet of specially trained canines have been diligently working since late last year. Their mission? To locate egg masses around various environments such as parks, habitats involving trees and shrubs, benches, as well as landscape elements like rocks and bridge supports. Each egg mass is capable of producing between 30 to 50 lanternflies.
These remarkable dogs have already uncovered more than 4,000 egg masses, which, according to Connie Hausman, the senior conservation science manager at Cleveland Metroparks, translates to the potential eradication of nearly 200,000 of these destructive bugs. The spotted lanternfly poses a severe threat to grapes, fruit trees, hops, and various hardwoods.
In a noteworthy effort at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo just last April, the dogs identified approximately 1,100 egg masses within a matter of a few hours.
Despite dogs having incredible olfactory capabilities, Hausman emphasized that not all dogs are eligible for this task. They must undergo specific tests to demonstrate their suitability for this particular service.
The training these dogs received is part of a research initiative spearheaded by Virginia Tech University, which aims to slow down and ultimately control the spread of these insects. Native to eastern Asia, the lanternfly is easily recognizable due to its unique black spots and vibrant red wing patterns.
The skilled dogs operating in Cleveland were already trained in scent detection before teaming up with Virginia Tech to refine their skills specifically for spotted lanternfly egg detection.
As soon as the dogs identify a fresh mass of eggs, they are rewarded by their handlers, who then take immediate action to remove the mud-like egg clusters, helping to preserve the area’s ecological balance.