A pair of English Springer Spaniels named Zinny and Sauvi B are recruited to hunt down insects that are destroying vineyards in California.
Dogs’ acute sense of smell is used to detect mealybugs, which infect grape vines with a deadly virus called leaf roll 3.
A study in the wine-growing region of Lodi, known for its premium Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties, found that puppies smelled foliage infections 93.4 percent of the time, and the mealybug detection rate was 97.3 percent.
She hopes that the animals and their offspring can replace pesticides in the long term and protect valuable crops from destruction.
“Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors compared to five million in humans,” Dr. Stephanie Bolton, of the Lodi Winegrab Commission, told industry magazine Wine Spectator. Dogs can smell things that don’t smell to us humans.
“Canines are rewarded with play, it’s a game for them.”
The dogs are likely to improve further over time, making their skills “economically feasible and scalable,” she said.
“This holds great potential for the sustainability of our industry,” she added. “We will not overcome this challenge if we continue to plant infested and infected vines.”
A pair of Springer Spaniels have been recruited to hunt down destructive insects to California vineyards. Pictured: Woman with dog tasting pink wine in a vineyard
He expressed his hope that animals and their offspring would replace pesticides in the long term (archive photo)
A study found that puppies sniffed out leaf infections 93.4 percent of the time, and had a 97.3 percent detection rate for mealybugs (archive photo)
Mealybugs have plagued California vineyards for three decades. It multiplies rapidly and spreads on birds, pruning shears and mechanical harvesters.
The chemical pesticides used to keep them away can be harmful to the environment.
Ms Bolton launched the canine trial in 2023 with a £350,000 grant from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
In addition to Zinny and Sauvi B, a black Labrador named Malbec and a short-haired dachshund named Cab were also tested.
They are trained to patrol the vineyard until they catch a whiff of mealybug pheromones or the unique scent produced by a leaf 3 – which cannot be detected by humans.
When a dog comes across an infected vine, it alerts its owner to sit. He is then rewarded with treats.
Dogs’ acute sense of smell is used to detect mealybugs (pictured), which infect grape vines with a deadly virus called leaf roll 3
When the dog comes across an infected vine, the dog alerts its handler to sit, and is then rewarded with treats (archive photo)
Separate experiments have found that English Springer Spaniels can recognize the scent of other horticultural pests including red spot virus, powdery mildew fungus and the spotted lanternfly.
The gifted breed has long been used as a police dog by the police and military to detect blood, drugs, guns, banknotes, explosives and electronics.
The researchers also found that they can smell cancer and detect the odor signature of some diseases, including Covid-19.
Traditionally used for flushing and retrieving game, it descends from the Norfolk and Shropshire spaniels of the mid-19th century.