Everyday Pets Can Learn to Sniff Out Destructive Spotted Lanternflies, Virginia Tech Study Finds

Across 19 states and the District of Columbia, an invasive agricultural pest is quietly threatening vineyards, orchards, and native forests: the spotted lanternfly. Originally native to Asia and first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, these planthoppers feed aggressively on grapevines, stone fruit trees, and hops. Along the way, they excrete a sticky fluid known as honeydew that fuels damaging sooty mold.

While wildlife officials and farmers have struggled to contain their spread, scientists have turned to an extraordinary ally with an unmatched superpower: the family dog.

The Hidden Threat in the Bark

Eliminating spotted lanternflies is a race against time and camouflage. Adult lanternflies and nimble nymphs are notoriously difficult to capture before they scatter, making winter egg masses the primary target for eradication. Each egg mass holds between 20 and 60 prospective insects, meaning every mass destroyed prevents dozens of pests from hatching in the spring.

The challenge is spotting them. Female lanternflies deposit their clutches in secluded nooks—tucked inside tree crevices, beneath fallen logs, and even on parked vehicles or cargo shipments. To the human eye, an egg mass looks almost identical to a dried smear of mud or a patch of tree lichen.

Dr. Sally Dickinson, a postdoctoral research associate at the Virginia Tech School of Animal Sciences and a detection dog handler for more than two decades, notes that visual searches by people are painstakingly slow and frequently miss hidden spots. Dogs, however, navigate the world through scent, allowing them to rapidly filter complex environmental odors and pinpoint camouflaged targets from remarkable distances.

From Couch Companions to Citizen Scientists

While professional conservation dogs have long assisted ecological field surveys, there are simply never enough certified working dogs to monitor every vineyard, park, and shipping corridor. That shortage prompted Dr. Dickinson and principal investigator Dr. Erica Feuerbacher to test whether everyday pet dogs could step into the breach.

As highlighted in an American Kennel Club report on the research, the Virginia Tech team recruited 110 citizen-science dog-and-handler pairs from across the country. The participants represented a wide spectrum of breeds, from energetic labrador-retriever mixes to compact Havanese, Chow Chows, and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.

Using devitalized, non-viable egg masses to prevent accidental contamination, the pairs trained independently for three to six months under the guidance of local trainers. When evaluated, the pet dogs demonstrated an impressive 82% accuracy rate in indoor odor recognition tests (ORT) and a 61% success rate in challenging outdoor field trials.

While outdoor detection rates reflected the complexity of shifting wind currents, ambient moisture, and competing wilderness scents, researchers view the outcome as definitive proof that community pets possess immense untapped potential for environmental protection. Several volunteer teams from the study are already active in their communities, surveying public grounds with Cleveland Metroparks and patrolling regional vineyards across Rhode Island and Southwest Virginia.

Unlocking Your Dog’s Natural Superpower

You do not need to patrol a commercial orchard to help your dog tap into their natural olfactory abilities. In fact, structured scent-work is one of the most effective and accessible enrichment activities available for companion canines.

Engaging a dog's sense of smell triggers positive neurological stimulation, burning mental energy and boosting self-assurance in shy or easily overstimulated pets. Because scent discrimination is intrinsically rewarding, dogs of any age, size, or physical stamina can thrive without needing high-intensity physical exertion.

Fostering that sensory drive at home is straightforward:

• Start with living room treasure hunts: Hide high-value treats beneath cardboard boxes or under towels, encouraging your dog to search using a consistent verbal cue like "find it."
• Layer in natural outdoor exploration: Allow frequent "decompression sniffs" during regular neighborhood walks, letting your pup process scent trails rather than rushing their pace.
• Explore structured scent games: Introductory classes hosted through local training clubs or nose work associations teach owners how to pair essential oils with rewards, building solid search fundamentals.

Dedicated canine training builds a unique partnership between dog and handler. Whether solving backyard scent puzzles or volunteering to protect native ecosystems, watching a companion discover the hidden world beneath their nose turns everyday play into meaningful canine achievement.