A pair of English Springer Spaniels called Zinny and Sauvi B have been recruited to hunt down vineyard-destroying bugs in California.
The dogs’ acute sense of smell is being used to detect mealybugs, which infect grapevines with a killer virus called leafroll 3.
A study in the Lodi wine-growing region, known for its fine Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties, found the pups sniffed out leafroll infections 93.4 per cent of the time and had a 97.3 per cent detection rate for mealybugs.
Its hoped the animals and their offspring could replace pesticides in the long term and protect valuable crops from decimation.
Dr Stephanie Bolton, of the Lodi Winegrape Commission, told industry magazine Wine Spectator: ‘Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors to humans’ five million. The dogs can smell things that to us as humans have no smell.
‘The canines are rewarded by play – it’s a game to them.’
She said the dogs are likely to improve further with time, making their skills ‘economically feasible and scalable’.
‘This holds great potential for the sustainability of our industry,’ she added. ‘We are not going to get ahead of this challenge if we keep planting infested and infected vines.’
A pair of Springer Spaniels have been recruited to hunt down vineyard-destroying bugs in California. Pictured: Woman with dog tasting pink wine in vineyard
Its hoped the animals and their offspring could replace pesticides in the long term (file image)
A study found the pups sniffed out leafroll infections 93.4 per cent of the time and had a 97.3 per cent detection rate for mealybugs (file image)
The mealybug has plagued Californian vineyards for three decades. It reproduces rapidly and spreads on birds, pruning shears and mechanical harvesters.
Chemical pesticides used to keep them at bay can be damaging to the environment.
Ms Bolton launched the dog trial in 2023 with a £350,000 grant from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
As well as Zinny and Sauvi B, a black Labrador called Malbec and a German shorthaired pointer called Cab were also tested.
They were trained to patrol the vineyard until they caught a whiff of mealybug pheromones or the unique scent produced by leafroll 3 – which are undetectable to humans.
When it passes an infected vine, a dog alerts its handler by sitting down. It is then rewarded with treats.
The dogs’ acute sense of smell is being used to detect mealybugs (pictured), which infect grapevines with a killer virus called leafroll 3
When it passes an infected vine, a dog alerts its handler by sitting down, it is then rewarded with treats (file image)
Separate trials have found English Springer Spaniels can identify the smell of other horticultural pests including red blotch virus, powdery mildew fungus and the spotted lantern fly.
The talented breed has long been used as a sniffer dog by police and military to detect blood, drugs, guns, banknotes, explosives and electronics.
Researchers have also found they can sniff out cancer and detect the odour signature of certain diseases, including Covid-19.
Traditionally used to flush out and retrieve game, they are descended from Norfolk and Shropshire spaniels of the mid-19th century.
