Daytime inspections are useful for some anopheline mosquitoes. They rest in cool, dark, humid places protected from the wind during the day. From these sites, they are vacuumed into a container and provide a representative sample of the population. Any mosquitoes resting overhead will be killed, and can be collected from the sheets and identified. For best results, the technique should be used during midmorning hours.
Light traps are the most widely used method to sample adult mosquito populations.
The New Jersey light trap has limited use in military situations because of its size and need for a 110 volt power source. The solid state Army miniature light trap is more often used in the military setting. Traps are hung near wooded areas, swamps, or potential breeding sites, 5-6 feet above ground and 30 feet away from buildings, avoiding areas exposed to strong winds or artificial light sources. They are scheduled a specific number of nights per week, and results are tabulated as to species, sex, and total number collected per night, per location. If so, light traps are baited with a perforated container of dry ice mounted above the trap.