A group of researchers in the Northern Territory say they may have discovered a simple way to combat one of northern Australia's most invasive pests, the cane toad.

FrogWatch is conducting field studies in waterways across Darwin on ways to cut down numbers of the troublesome toad, which was originally introduced to Australia to control the cane beetle.

Group coordinator Graeme Sawyer says a variety of tadpole traps are being used.

He says the most successful trap contains toxins which attract tadpoles, trapping them inside.

"We may be able to eradicate tadpoles completely out of places," he said.

"We couldn't do that before."

A single trap collected more than 16,000 tadpoles in just a few days.

Mr Sawyer says the toxin was made from the toads.

"We've been harvesting it straight out of toads: putting the toad in a plastic sandwich bag, popping the glands like you would a pimple and then just putting the bags in the freezer," he said.

Mr Sawyer says the traps could be a way for residents to help fight the toad.