Pet dogs beat experts at sniffing out spotted lanternfly eggs

The field trial pitched ordinary dogs against plant disease specialists in a real-world hunt for spotted lanternfly eggs, a pest threatening vineyards and forests across 19 states. A 12-year-old Boston terrier and nine dog‑owner teams explored half‑acre plots after humans had cleared the area, and the dogs found more eggs than the experts by a factor of over two to one. In the most challenging sections, dogs located an average of three egg masses each, while trained humans found just over one. Detection was reliable within roughly 16 feet; beyond 50 feet, dogs struggled, guiding evaluators to adjust search patterns and movement to maximize scent detection in real vegetation.