Dogs to the Rescue: Virginia Tech Study Finds Everyday Pups Can Sniff Out Invasive Lanternfly Threat

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Your dog’s favorite hobby — sniffing — might just be the secret weapon in the battle against one of America’s most destructive invasive pests.

In a groundbreaking study led by Virginia Tech, ordinary dogs and their dedicated owners proved they can detect the elusive egg masses of the spotted lanternfly — a fast-spreading insect wreaking havoc on farms, vineyards, and forests across the eastern U.S.

It’s a discovery that could revolutionize how we fight invasive species — by turning pets into protectors of the environment.

Backyard Buddies, National Mission

For the first time, researchers have shown that citizen dog-handler teams — not just professionals — can successfully detect the hard-to-spot egg masses of the invasive lanternfly with remarkable accuracy.

“These teams demonstrated that citizen scientists and their dogs can play a meaningful role in protecting agriculture and the environment,” said lead author Sally Dickinson, who recently earned her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. “With proper training, dog owners can turn their pets into powerful partners for conservation.”

And the results speak for themselves: in controlled lab tests, the dogs identified lanternfly egg masses correctly 82 percent of the time. Even in real-world outdoor conditions, their accuracy held strong at 61 percent — far better than many human searches.

From Playtime to Pest Control

The idea behind the study was simple: tap into the growing community of dog owners already involved in recreational scent work — a popular hobby where dogs sniff out hidden scents for fun.

Out of more than 1,000 interested applicants, researchers selected 182 dog-handler teams from across the country. After training with non-hatching egg masses for several months, the dogs were tested in both indoor and outdoor search scenarios.

From Tibetan terriers to pit bull mixes, dogs of all shapes and sizes rose to the challenge.

“Anytime you can stimulate your dog, it’s good for them,” said Bill Wellborn of Roanoke, whose terrier Pepe trained for the study. “And it’s a way we can use our dog’s skills to help our community.”

A Growing Role for Citizen Science

Native to Asia, the spotted lanternfly was first spotted in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since spread to 18 states, laying egg masses that look like mud smears in hard-to-spot places — tree bark, trailers, rocks, and even vehicles.

Their spread is a nightmare for farmers and foresters. But dogs, with their superpowered noses, can detect these hidden threats far more effectively than the human eye.

“This is more than a hobby,” said Erica Feuerbacher, associate professor of animal sciences and co-author of the study. “These citizen scientists and their dogs are an untapped resource in the fight against invasive pests.”

In fact, the same research team has also trained dogs to sniff out powdery mildew, a major grapevine disease — with over 90 percent accuracy.

Protecting What Matters

For Dickinson, a career firefighter and canine search-and-rescue expert, this research is personal.

“It’s about empowering people to work alongside their dogs to protect the places and communities they care about,” she said.

The project was funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and included researchers from Virginia Tech and Texas Tech University. Full studies are published in PeerJ and the Journal of Veterinary Behavior.

So next time your dog’s nose leads them on a wild sniffing spree — just remember, they might be more than a good boy. They could be an environmental hero in the making.