Data from: An evaluation of Spotted Lanternfly (<i>Lycorma delicatula</i>) detection dog training and performance

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive foreign insect that is threatening U.S. forestry and agriculture. In 2017, it was estimated that SLF generated over $ 300 million in losses to Pennsylvania’s agriculture and forestry. Because of the SLF life cycle, the most efficient way to eradicate or prevent its spread is to identify and destroy the egg masses before they hatch. However, egg masses are difficult to locate because they are camouflaged making it difficult to be detected by the human eye. A recent study found that detection dogs can be trained to detect dead SLF egg masses, suggesting that dogs can be used to find egg masses in the field. The aim of this study was to further evaluate dogs’ detection capability by performing a detailed evaluation of dog training and performance. Ten dogs were trained to detect dead SLF egg masses using an automated olfactometer. The training was divided into eight phases in which we tested dogs’ ability to transfer to novel SLF samples and to discriminate SLF egg masses from different environmental distractors followed by a final validation phase. Results show that after training with a single set of samples, dogs were able to transfer their training to different novel samples. In training, dogs showed higher false alerts to distractor tree barks and to freeze-dried crickets than to any other distractor. During the validation phase, dogs’ average sensitivity and specificity to SLF egg masses on bark were 99. 14 ± 0.33% and 99.41 ± 0.21%, respectively. Data show that dogs can easily detect and discriminate SLF egg masses from other environmental distractors and highlight the importance of training dogs with relevant distractors they will encounter in the field to prevent false alerts. Our experiment further confirms that detection dogs can be used as an effective partner to help in SLF eradication efforts.

斑衣蜡蝉（Spotted Lanternfly, SLF）是一种入侵性外来昆虫，正对美国的林业与农业构成严重威胁。2017年，据估算该虫给宾夕法尼亚州的农林产业造成了超过3亿美元的经济损失。鉴于斑衣蜡蝉的生命周期特征，根除该虫或阻断其扩散的最有效手段，是在其卵块孵化前完成识别与销毁。然而，卵块具有伪装性，人类肉眼难以直接发现。此前一项研究证实，可通过训练检测犬识别死的斑衣蜡蝉卵块，提示该方法可应用于野外卵块搜寻工作。本研究旨在通过对检测犬训练流程与表现的详细评估，进一步验证其侦缉能力。研究团队使用自动化嗅觉仪，对10只检测犬开展了死斑衣蜡蝉卵块检测训练。训练过程分为八个阶段：首先测试犬只将训练习得的识别能力泛化至新型斑衣蜡蝉样本的能力，随后测试其区分斑衣蜡蝉卵块与不同环境干扰物的能力，最终设置验证阶段。结果显示，仅使用单一组样本完成训练后，犬即可将其识别能力迁移至不同的新型样本。训练期间，相较于其他干扰物，犬对树皮干扰样本与冻干蟋蟀干扰样本的误报警率更高。在验证阶段，犬对附着于树皮的斑衣蜡蝉卵块的平均检测灵敏度为99.14±0.33%，特异性为99.41±0.21%。实验数据表明，检测犬可轻松检测并区分斑衣蜡蝉卵块与其他环境干扰物，同时强调了使用野外实际会遭遇的相关干扰物训练犬只，以避免误报警的重要性。本实验进一步证实，检测犬可作为高效合作伙伴，助力斑衣蜡蝉的根除防控工作。