In Austria, dogs help detect pest hotspots 0 8

For the past 20–25 years, hotspots of the Asian longhorned beetle have been recorded in Austria along the border with Germany; however, a few years ago, this pest was successfully eradicated.

The eradication was carried out with the help of dogs, which could instantly identify infested areas by scent. Specialists immediately eliminated the hotspots, without waiting for the tree to die and for the pest's habitat to spread. In Austria, there is a farm that houses 6–7 dogs that are dispatched on request to diagnose and identify hotspots of the Asian longhorned beetle throughout Europe.

Finland has proposed another original method for combating quarantine pests by involving ordinary citizens in monitoring. They account for up to 90% of new pest hotspot detections. “For example, a hotspot of the Asian longhorned beetle was discovered in the country thanks to a woman who saw an advertisement on television and then, while walking to the store, noticed a beetle. She brought it to the laboratory, and it turned out to be a longhorned beetle. This allowed for the timely elimination of the hotspot,” noted the expert.