Soil Invertebrates in the Southeast

Selected soil and litter dwelling organisms in southeastern forests, with approximate ranges in size for length and width, and functional types represented

Common Name	Scientific Name*	Length (mm)\xe2\x80\xa0	Width (mm)\xe2\x80\xa0	Functional Types
Round worms	Nematoda	0.15 - 5.0	0.003 - 0.1	Root feeders
				Bacterial feeders
Link to photos				Fungus feeders
				Omnivores
				Predators
Mites	Acari	0.15 - 4.0	0.085 - 2.0	Bacteria feeders
				Fungus feeders
Link to photos				Detritus feeders
				Omnivores
				Predators
Springtails	Collembola	0.25 - 8.0	0.130 - 1.8	Fungal feeders
Link to photos				Omnivores
Spiders	Araneae	1.0 - 10	0.5 - 20	Predators
Link to photos
Pot worms	Enchytraeidae	1.5 - 50	0.3 - 1.5	Bacterial feeders
				Detritivores
Millipedes	Diplopoda	1.5 - 100	0.5 - 30	Detritivores
Link to photos
Centipedes	Chilopoda	3.0 - 120	1.0 - 30	Predators
Link to photos
Pillbugs	Isopoda	2.0 - 20	2.0 - 20	Detritivores
Sowbugs
Rolly-polies
Termites	Isoptera	2.5 - 20	0.6 - 4.0	Wood feeders
Link to photo
White grubs	Coleoptera	1.0 - 50	0.25 - 20	Root feeders
Wireworms				Detritivores
Wood-borers				Predators
Various beetles
Snails	Mollusca	1.5 - 150	1.0 - 60	Plant feeders
Slugs				Detritivores
Earthworms	Lumbricina	15 - 500	1.5 - 25	Detritivores
Red wigglers
Nightcrawlers
* For convenience, scientific names are provided at the level of resolution that includes all organisms encompassed by the common names used for different groups.  For example, Nematoda and Mollusca are Phylum-level designations, but Enchytraeidae is a Family-level designation.
\xe2\x80\xa0 Lengths and widths presented in this table are approximations and are derived from materials presented in Coleman and Crossley (1996), and from personal observations of the author.