Category Archives: IDC
How dogs, drones and needles might save South Dade’s avocado trees
John Mills, owner of Innovative Detection Concepts, and trainer Lourdes Edlin of Action Pack Performing Dogs, use their dogs Cobra, front, and Vinnie to sniff out the laurel wilt fungus and locate infected avocado trees. The dogs were being trained at the University of Florida Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead.
Ambrosia beetles wreak havoc on avocado trees in South Dade

Ambrosia beetles are spreading laurel wilt, a fungal virus, which is responsible for killing more than 12,000 commercial avocado trees in South Florida since 2012.
Miami Herald, Pedro Portal / pportal@elnuevoherald.com, Jul 29, 2016
FIU uses dogs, drones to battle deadly avocado fungus
Florida’s avocado groves are under attack
Fox News, July 2, 2015
How drones are saving Florida’s avocado trees
How drones are saving Florida’s avocado trees
MSNBC The Rundown with Jose Diaz-Balart, May 7, 2015
Drones, dogs used to protect avocado from disease
Drones, dogs used to protect avocado from disease
CBS This Morning, May 5, 2015
Drones and dogs deployed in battle to save the guacamole
Drones and dogs deployed in battle to save the guacamole
Associated Press, April 28, 2015