GabyIn 2023, with the help of canine experts and biologists, California winemakers enlisted two English Springer Spaniels — Zinni and Sovi B, named after Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc — to help search for pest insects. Rather than rely on pesticides that could damage their vines, these winemakers turned to the dogs’ keen noses to hunt mealybugs. The mealybug (Pseudococcus) is a sap-sucking insect that spreads a leafroll virus that devastates grapevines. The pest has plagued California vineyards for three decades, reproducing and spreading rapidly. The chemicals typically used to fight the insects can also harm the environment.
The project shows real promise. At the start of the study in the Lodi wine region, the team received a $428,000 grant from the Department of Pesticide Regulation. Stephanie Bolton, director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission for Sustainable Viticulture and the study’s lead, explained, “Dogs have about 300 million olfactory receptors, while humans have only 5 million. Dogs can detect scents where humans cannot. Plus, for the dogs, it’s all a game.” During the experiments, trainers taught the English Springer Spaniels to patrol the vineyard until they detected the scent of the leafroll virus and the pheromones of the mealybugs. When a dog sat down, it signaled to its handler that it had found an infected vine. The dog was then rewarded with treats, according to the Daily Mail.
The study’s results show the dogs identified the leafroll virus in 93.4% of cases and detected the mealybugs in 97.3% of instances. Bolton says the dogs will likely improve their skills over time, making them “economically viable and scalable.” “This has great potential for our industry. We won’t solve the problem if we continue to plant infected vines,” she added. Preliminary tests indicate English Springer Spaniels can also recognize the scents of other garden pests. The breed has long helped police and military units detect blood, drugs, weapons, cash, explosives, and electronics. Research suggests these dogs may also be able to detect olfactory signs of cancer, COVID-19, and other diseases. The English Springer Spaniel traces back to Norfolk and Shropshire spaniels from the mid-19th century.
