Soil Dwellers Spotter Guide

Spotter guide

Soil dwellers feed on organic matter and decomposition occurs. Earthworms eat dead plants and their poo (called worm castings) is nutritious for growing plants.

  • Estimated time: minutes
  • Location: Outdoors
  • School term: All year round
  • Level of experience: No experience needed

Learning objectives

 

  • Discover that your soil is alive!
  • Use a magnifying glass to spot the creatures who spend their lives living in the soil or compost
  • Identify your soil dwellers
  • Look at similarities in movement from creatures with a backbone
  1. Common burrowing earthworm
  2. Brandling or tiger worms
  3. Woodlouse
  4. Millipede
  5. Centipede
  6. Springtail
  7. Ant
  8. Vine weevil
  9. Chafer grub
  10. Slug
  11. Snake Centipede
  12. Violet Ground Beetle