Semiaquatic adults can be swept from shoreline vegetation. Lentic species may be collected by rigorously netting up the vegetation and extracting through a Berlese funnel. Large powerful swimmers may avoid most netting attempts. Many species are more vulnerable at night. Species on beaches may be flooded into the water and netted from the surface, but some species run very fast or may even take flight from the surface.
Bottle traps can be very effective in vegetation choked ponds.
Getting the larvae to pupae can be more difficult. The first instar larvae may be reared from eggs. The larvae are generally cannibalistic. The adults are best studied dry. They may be pinned or pointed after storage in fluids or they may be killed in a killing jar and pinned or pointed directly.