Technician and trained canine detection dog observe the invasive spotted lanternfly 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. Vineyards are especially vulnerable, but tree farms, fruit farms, and nurseries are also at risk of damage. Prevention, early detection, and rapid response are the most cost-effective strategies for reducing or preventing negative impacts to vineyards, tree and fruit farms, and nurseries across the U.S. While it’s not the first time detection dogs have been used to identify invasive species, this study is the first to compare spotted lanternfly detection probability between dogs and humans. The overarching goal of the project is to mitigate the negative impacts of spotted lanternfly. By directly informing search strategies of spotted lanternfly, this project also helps protect the livelihoods of small agricultural producers in New York State.