Today, the AWESOME is found at Virginia Tech. A groundbreaking initiative is training dogs to help locate the invasive spotted lanternfly, a pest wreaking havoc on crops in 18 states since its detection in Pennsylvania in 2014. With significant advancements in canine scent training, this program is enlisting everyday dog owners as citizen scientists to join the fight against these pests. Led by Sally Dickinson at Virginia Tech, the effort leverages the remarkable olfactory abilities of dogs, which can detect scents tens of thousands of times more acutely than humans. The results were promising, with dogs excelling in odor tests—82% accuracy indoors and 61% outdoors. This tactic could significantly impact agriculture, potentially saving local farmers from substantial crop losses, and THAT’S AWESOME!
