Lotic, open channel species are easily collected by routine benthic samples, some are very small, some may cling strongly to the substrate and to the net. Many lotic species hug the shorelines and are nocturnal, these can be highly aggregated by day. 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.