Spotted lanternfly egg mass on a support pole at a vineyard

USGS ecologists at the New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Cornell University, are using trained canine scent detection dogs to sniff out invasive spotted lanternfly egg masses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Invasive spotted lanternflies expel a sticky ‘honeydew’ and sooty mold when feeding, reducing fruit yields on grapes, fruit trees, and hops. Vineyards are especially vulnerable, but tree farms, fruit farms, and nurseries are also at risk of damage. The grape and wine industry in New York supports over 71,000 jobs, resulting in U.S. $6.6 billion in economic output in 2019 (Dunham, 2019). Preventing invasive species is the most cost-effective way to avoid negative impacts. Infestations and egg masses are now present in 18 states.