By: Mia Werger
February 19, 2025
This is one of the first questions our research teams often hear from farmers when we start collecting data on a new farm. At every site, two researchers kneel in the soil, take out a contraption made of long plastic tubing, and begin sucking invertebrates into collection vials. It’s a strange activity to watch, but an enjoyable one to perform (like a kind of video game!).
Olivia holds an “aspirator” for collecting soil-dwelling invertebrates. Photo by Kelly Clinton.
Ecdysis Foundation studies the soil-dwelling invertebrate community because we know that vibrant, biodiverse soils are critical for producing healthy regenerative food. Many of us have heard the statistic that there are more living organisms in a teaspoon of soil than there are people on Earth. But who are these creatures under our feet?
Below is a brief introduction to the five most common invertebrate species that Ecdysis scientists encounter in fields throughout North America.
Springtails (Class: Collembola)
These tiny invertebrates are not technically insects, although they are closely related. The name “springtail” comes from the spring-loaded appendage on their abdomen that allows them to jump huge distances to avoid predation. Though their tiny size makes them hard to see, springtails are one of the most abundant of all animals, found nearly everywhere on earth (check out this video to be amazed at the microscopic world of springtails!).
Ants (Family: Formicidae)
The most common type of insect that we encounter while soil sampling is the familiar ant. With an estimated 22,000 species worldwide, ants are a diverse group, leaving their mark on the soil everywhere they go.
Ants live complex lifestyles in organized colonies, standing out among insects for their elaborate communication abilities and extensive habitat modification. Their activities contribute to soil formation as they tunnel, build mounds, and scavenge decaying organisms.
Wolf Spiders (Family: Lycosidae)
Wolf spiders, the most common type of spider in our samples, have several unusual traits that set them apart from other arachnids. Instead of building webs, these spiders ambush or chase down their prey using their exceptionally good eyesight. Many wolf spiders inhabit burrows in the soil, and they often possess incredible camouflage that blends seamlessly into their favorite habitats.
Sheet-weaver spiders (Family: Linyphiidae)
This family of spiders builds sheets of webs over the surface of the soil to catch their prey. Sheet weavers are useful predators for many farmers, reducing the populations of crop-damaging insects. In addition to using their webs to catch prey, these spiders also practice “ballooning,” in which they spin threads that allow them to drift long distances on air currents.
Ground beetles (Family: Carabidae)
Our final spotlight is on the ground beetle family, a colorful group of metallic insects. Mostly carnivorous, these beetles are appreciated by many farmers for their role in reducing pest populations. The varied species within this family have fascinating traits, including the Bombardier Beetle that combusts a cloud of hot acrid gas when threatened, or the Tiger Beetle that can run, relative to its body size, faster than almost any other animal on earth.
These five kinds of soil invertebrates are found almost everywhere we travel for our research. Of course, there are many more kinds of creatures making their homes in our soils – soil biology is a field we are learning more about every day! Next time you are kneeling in your garden or raking leaves, take a moment to pay attention to the soil and appreciate this intricate community of creatures that do so much for our ecosystems.
Comments