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Wasp Hound Gaining National Recognition
In a previous e-newsletter, we discussed the Wasp Hound, an innovative new prototype developed by Glen Rains, Ph.D and Joe Lewis, Ph.D of SmartHound Technologies. The Wasp Hound, a hand-held device containing five parasitic wasps, is designed to measure the change in the insects’ behavior when an odor is detected. While these wasps are designed to “sniff out” just about anything, the Wasp Hound is gaining much recognition for its ability to discover bedbugs. As experts predict a bedbug epidemic to sweep the U.S., a recent article on CNNMoney.com featured the Tifton scientists along with six other companies using unique bedbug-fighting solutions. The wasps are gaining national attention, not only for their uniqueness, but also because they cost less to train than dogs and are more efficient at detecting bedbugs. While Rains and Lewis see bedbug detection as a viable market for their product, they also want their wasps to catch the eye of the military, homeland security and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention among others. The COI for Agribusiness has been working behind the scenes with SmartHound Technologies to help establish valuable connections that will help them gain the recognition and funding they need to take their product from prototype to commercialization. |
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Highlights
Bedbugs: Bring 'em on! Most people have heard of bedbug-sniffing dogs. But bedbug-sniffing wasps? Glen Rains and Joe Lewis, both Ph.Ds, have been able to train stingers-free wasps to detect bedbugs. The wasps, which are in a container, swarm to the center of it whenever they detect the odor of the bloodsucking creatures. They call their prototype the Wasp Hound. Rains, an associate professor at the University of Georgia, and Lewis, a retired research entomologist, created the prototype in 2004 with graduate student Sam Utley and the help of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. The professors want to sell their product to the military, homeland security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as other places. The insects could give bedbug-sniffing dogs a run for their money, because they cost less to train and are more efficient at detecting bedbugs, Rains said. The biggest obstacle is money. Right now they need half a million dollars to get their company SmartHound Technologies, LLC, off the ground. But that might come sooner rather than later as the bedbug problem intensifies. To read the entire article on CNNMoney.com, click here. Article by Geoff Williams, CNNMoney.com read more >> View all Highlights |
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