India, Oct. 23 -- Spotted lanternfly egg masses typically contain 30 to 50 eggs and can be deposited on trees, rocks, outdoor equipment, and other surfaces, making them difficult to spot during inspections. Dogs may be able to detect these hidden egg masses by scent, even when they are not visible to inspectors. In a 2025 study published in PeerJ, Sally Dickinson and colleagues investigated whether companion dogs with scent-detection training could help identify the eggs and support efforts to limit the insect's spread.

Native to parts of Asia, including China and Vietnam, the spotted lanternfly was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, likely after arriving on a shipment of landscaping stone. The invasive planthopper faces fewer natur...