Berlese Funnels

Berlese funnels, also called Tullgren funnels, are classic tools in entomology, first introduced by Italian entomologist Antonio Berlese in the late 19th century and later refined by Swedish entomologist Albert Tullgren.  These devices efficiently extract small soil-dwelling arthropods, such as insects, springtails, and mites, from soil or leaf litter samples.  Using a light, heat source, or natural evaporation, the funnel creates a desiccating environment that drives organisms downward into a collection container, offering a simple yet effective method for studying soil biodiversity.