To test soil and leaf-litter samples for the presence of immature blacklegged ticks, researchers at Texas A&M University used Berlese funnels. In collection efforts using this method, the samples are placed in the funnels under heat lamps, and any arthropods in the samples migrate downward to avoid the heat and desiccation caused by the lamp. At the bottom of the funnel, the arthropods are collected in a jar. (Photo credit: Mackenzie Tietjen)