Soil-fauna
Guides
Sminthurus eisenii
A globular springtail in the family Sminthuridae, first described from California in 1891. Belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded body form and reduced or absent furcula in some species. Part of a genus containing several agricultural pest species, though specific pest status for this species is undocumented.
Sminthurus fitchi
Sminthurus fitchi is a species of globular springtail in the family Sminthuridae. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded body form distinct from the more elongate springtails in other orders. The species was described by J.W. Folsom in 1896. Like other members of its genus, it possesses a furcula, the springing organ that gives Collembola their common name.
Sminthurus sp-nr-variegatus
variegated globular springtail
Sminthurus sp-nr-variegatus is a globular springtail in the family Sminthuridae, characterized by its distinctive variegated color pattern. This species exhibits the rounded body form typical of the order Symphypleona, with a furcula (springing organ) folded beneath the abdomen. It inhabits surface vegetation and soil litter in various terrestrial environments. The 'sp-nr-variegatus' designation indicates a species near or related to Sminthurus variegatus, pending formal taxonomic resolution.
Spinibdella
snout mites
Spinibdella is a genus of predatory snout mites in the family Bdellidae, characterized by an elongated rostrum used to pierce prey. The genus has been recorded from soil, leaf litter, and bird nests across multiple continents. Species such as S. bifurcata exhibit parthenogenetic reproduction and complete multiple generations annually. Spinibdella species are active predators with documented preference for psocopteran prey.
Spirostreptidae
Flatplate Millipedes
Spirostreptidae is a family of large millipedes in the order Spirostreptida, commonly known as flatplate millipedes. The family comprises approximately 100 genera distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, and the eastern Mediterranean. Members are characterized by their elongated cylindrical bodies and are primarily soil-dwelling detritivores, though some species exhibit arboreal habits. The family includes both synanthropic species that can become urban pests and species with specialized thermoregulatory and social behaviors.
Staphylinina
Staphylinina is a subtribe of rove beetles within the tribe Staphylinini, family Staphylinidae. Members are typically medium to large-sized rove beetles with elongated bodies and relatively short elytra that leave much of the abdomen exposed. The subtribe includes genera such as Platydracus, Staphylinus, Ocypus, Agelosus, and Naddia. Several species have been documented exhibiting specialized behaviors including ant-mimicry and termitophily. The group has a cosmopolitan distribution with significant diversity in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions.
Staphylinoidea
Rove, Ant-like stone, and Carrion Beetles
Staphylinoidea is a large and diverse superfamily of beetles with worldwide distribution, encompassing approximately 58,000 described species across six families. Adults range from minute (Ptiliidae at 0.3 mm, the smallest non-parasitic insects) to moderately large (Staphylinidae up to 50 mm, Silphidae up to 45 mm). The superfamily is characterized by distinctive wing and abdominal morphology: hind wings lack accessory posterior ridges, medial loops, wedge cells, and apical hinges; the 8th abdominal segment is not fully invaginated within the 7th; and the head typically lacks a coronal suture. Larvae possess 3-segmented maxillary palps with distinct galea and lacinia, well-developed tergites and sternites, and annular or annular-biforous spiracles without epistomal lobes.
Stenolophus carbo
Burned Harp Ground Beetle
Stenolophus carbo is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Bousquet in 1993. It belongs to the genus Stenolophus, commonly known as seedcorn beetles or harp ground beetles, which are typically associated with agricultural and disturbed habitats. The species is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the Carabidae, it is likely predatory or omnivorous, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Striaria
Striaria is a genus of millipedes in the family Striariidae, order Chordeumatida. The genus was established by Bollman in 1888. These small, eyeless millipedes are part of the diverse soil-dwelling fauna of temperate forests. The name Striaria is also used for a genus of brown algae (Phaeophyceae), but this represents a separate taxonomic entity in a different kingdom.
Strigamia branneri
Strigamia branneri is a soil-dwelling centipede in the family Linotaeniidae, described by Bollman in 1888. It belongs to the order Geophilomorpha, which comprises elongated, burrowing centipedes with high numbers of leg pairs. The species is known from the United States.
Strigamia epileptica
Strigamia epileptica is a species of soil-dwelling centipede in the family Linotaeniidae, first described by Wood in 1862. It belongs to the order Geophilomorpha, characterized by elongated bodies with numerous leg pairs. The species is known from the United States and is part of the diverse Strigamia genus, which contains multiple North American species. Like other geophilomorph centipedes, it is adapted to life in soil and leaf litter environments.
Strigamia fusata
Strigamia fusata is a species of soil-dwelling centipede in the family Linotaeniidae, originally described from Mexico in 1903 by Attems as Diplochora fusata and later transferred to Strigamia. The species belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive morphological features including a conspicuous basal denticle on the forcipular tarsungulum and paired ventral pore areas on trunk segments. Like other Strigamia species, it likely exhibits substantial variation in leg number, with the genus ranging from 31 to 83 pairs.
Sunius rufipes
Sunius rufipes is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. The genus Sunius belongs to the subfamily Staphylininae, a large and diverse group of predatory beetles characterized by their abbreviated elytra. The specific epithet "rufipes" refers to reddish legs, a common coloration pattern in this genus. Members of Sunius are typically found in various terrestrial habitats where they function as generalist predators.
Superodontella
Superodontella is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Odontellidae, established by Stach in 1949. The genus has been documented across multiple continents including Europe, where recent studies have expanded its known range into Italy and Ukraine. Species-level identification relies on detailed chaetotaxy, particularly antennal sensilla patterns and specific arrangements of chaetae on body segments.
Tachyporus abdominalis
Tachyporus abdominalis is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Tachyporinae. It is a small, active predatory beetle with a Holarctic distribution spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. The species is part of the diverse Tachyporus genus, which contains numerous similar-looking species that are often difficult to distinguish without close examination. Like other members of its genus, it is typically found in moist habitats where it hunts small invertebrates.
Taiyuna moderata
Taiyuna moderata is a soil-dwelling centipede in the family Geophilidae, first described by Chamberlin in 1941. It belongs to the order Geophilomorpha, a group characterized by elongated bodies with numerous leg pairs. The species is known from the United States, with records indicating presence in North America. Limited published information exists regarding its biology and ecology.
Talitroides
landhopper, lawn shrimp
Talitroides is a genus of terrestrial amphipod crustaceans commonly known as landhoppers or lawn shrimp. These small, laterally compressed crustaceans have adapted to life on land, inhabiting moist soil and leaf litter in forested environments. Several species have been introduced outside their native ranges and have become established in new regions, including T. topitotum in Brazil and Hong Kong. The genus has been documented in mosquito surveillance bycatch studies and ecological research on soil fauna.
Talitroides alluaudi
Alluaudi's landhopper
A terrestrial amphipod (landhopper) native to the Atlantic forests of southeastern Brazil, now distributed worldwide through synanthropic human-mediated dispersal. Found in leaf litter of tropical and subtropical forests, urban parks, greenhouses, and silviculture areas. Females dominate populations with a strongly female-biased sex ratio observed in field samples. Exhibits highly stereotyped grooming behavior for hygiene maintenance.
Teleasinae
Teleasinae is a subfamily of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Scelionidae. Members are exclusively egg parasitoids of ground beetles (Carabidae), making them unique among Scelionidae in this host specialization. The subfamily contains approximately 14 genera and over 480 described species worldwide, with Trimorus alone comprising 389 species. Taxonomic placement has shifted historically, having been treated previously as a subfamily of Platygastridae before molecular analyses reclassified Scelionidae as a subfamily within Platygastridae.
Tetracanthella californica
Tetracanthella californica is a species of springtail described by Deharveng in 1978. It belongs to the family Isotomidae, a diverse group of small, wingless hexapods found in soil and leaf litter ecosystems. The species epithet indicates its occurrence in California. Like other Collembola, it contributes to decomposition processes in terrestrial habitats.
Tomoceridae
Tomoceridae is a family of springtails (Collembola) within the order Entomobryomorpha. Members are characterized by their elongated bodies and relatively long antennae compared to other springtail families. The family includes both surface-dwelling and cave-adapted species, with some showing pronounced troglomorphic traits such as eyelessness and depigmentation. Tomoceridae has a broad geographic distribution including Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.
Tomocerus
elongate springtails
Tomocerus is a genus of elongate springtails (Collembola) in the family Tomoceridae, characterized by their relatively large size among springtails and distinctive body proportions. Species in this genus are distributed across multiple continents including Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with some species exhibiting troglomorphic adaptations in cave habitats. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision, with species complexes such as the kinoshitai and ocreatus groups recognized. Tomocerus vulgaris is a notable species that has been studied for its life history and ecological interactions, including serving as prey for specialized predators such as harvestmen.
Tomocerus vulgaris
Tomocerus vulgaris is a European springtail species in the family Tomoceridae, characterized by an elongate body form and relatively long antennae. It is a soil-dwelling organism that has been documented as prey for harvestmen, which use adhesive secretions to capture this species despite its water-repellent cuticle. The species has been subject to bionomic studies examining its life history and temperature-dependent development.
Trachyuropodidae
Trachyuropodidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata, classified within the suborder Monogynaspida and infraorder Uropodina. The family contains genera such as Leonardiella, with species documented from European and Asian localities including Turkey. Members are found in association with woody vegetation, particularly oak and willow habitats. The group belongs to the diverse assemblage of soil-dwelling and litter-inhabiting mites that contribute to decomposition processes.
Trechus
Trechus is a large genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) comprising over 1,000 described species. The genus is distributed across the Palearctic, Near East, and highlands of East Africa. The name derives from the Greek word *trécho*, meaning "I run." Species occupy diverse habitats including floodplain meadows, alpine zones, and volcanic highlands.
Trichonyx sulcicollis
Trichonyx sulcicollis is a small rove beetle (family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae) originally described from Europe in 1816. It belongs to the tribe Trichonychini within the diverse ant-loving beetle group (Pselaphinae). The species has been recorded across much of Europe and has been introduced to the northeastern United States (New Hampshire, New York). As a pselaphine rove beetle, it is likely associated with leaf litter and soil habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Trogastrina
Trogastrina is a subtribe of minute rove beetles within the family Staphylinidae, subfamily Pselaphinae. These beetles belong to the tribe Trogastrini and are characterized by their small body size and association with leaf litter and soil habitats. The subtribe was established by Brendel and Wickham in 1890. Members of this group are part of the diverse Euplectitae clade, one of the most species-rich lineages within Pselaphinae.
Trombellidae
Trombellidae is a family of prostigmatid mites within the superfamily Trombiculoidea. These mites are closely related to chiggers (Trombiculidae) and share the characteristic parasitic larval stage, though they are far less studied than their medically important relatives. The family is distinguished by particular morphological features of the larval gnathosoma and setation patterns. Adult trombellids are free-living predators, while larvae are ectoparasites of arthropods.
Trombidioidea
velvet mites
Trombidioidea is a superfamily of mites in the order Trombidiformes, commonly known as velvet mites. It comprises approximately 8 families and at least 430 described species, including the familiar true velvet mites (Trombidiidae) and chiggers (Trombiculidae). Members exhibit complex life cycles with dramatic morphological and ecological shifts between instars. The superfamily is characterized by large, often brightly colored adults and minute, parasitic larvae.
Trombidium
velvet mites, red velvet mites
Trombidium is a genus of velvet mites in the family Trombidiidae comprising approximately 30 described species. Members are characterized by their bright red coloration and dense, velvety setae covering the body. The genus exhibits a complex life cycle with parasitic larval stages and free-living postlarval stages. The best-known species is Trombidium holosericeum, which has a Palearctic distribution.
Trypogalumnella poronota
Trypogalumnella poronota is a species of oribatid mite in the family Galumnellidae, described by Mahunka in 1995. Oribatid mites of this family are soil-dwelling microarthropods, commonly known as beetle mites or moss mites. The species belongs to the superfamily Galumnoidea, characterized by specific morphological adaptations for life in soil and leaf litter environments. No observations of this species have been recorded in public databases.
Tullbergia
Tullbergia is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Tullbergiidae, established by Lubbock in 1876. The genus contains approximately 50 described species distributed across diverse habitats including Arctic, Antarctic, and temperate regions. Some species have been studied for their population dynamics in forest soils.
Tullbergia arctica
Tullbergia arctica is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Tullbergiidae, described by Wahlgren in 1900. The species is distributed across Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including northern Eurasia and North America. As a member of the Poduromorpha, it belongs to a group of soil-dwelling hexapods adapted to cold environments.
Tyrini
Tyrini is a tribe of rove beetles within the subfamily Pselaphinae, established by Reitter in 1882. The tribe comprises four subtribes: Centrophthalmina, Janusculina, Somatipionina, and Tyrina. Members of this tribe are small, compact beetles adapted to cryptic habitats such as leaf litter and soil.
Upoluna
Upoluna is a genus of minute rove beetles in the subfamily Pselaphinae, family Staphylinidae. Members of this genus are placed in the tribe Tyrini and subtribe Somatipionina. The genus was established by Schaufuss in 1886. Like other pselaphines, species in this genus are small, compact beetles associated with leaf litter and soil habitats.
Uropodina
Uropodina is an infraorder of mites in the order Mesostigmata, characterized by morphologically variable forms with fused sternal and ventral shields, short legs with reduced setae, and stigmata positioned between the second and third leg pairs. Most species inhabit soil, forest litter, and decaying organic matter, where they function primarily as predators of small invertebrates. Many species exhibit phoresy during the deutonymph stage, attaching to insects and other arthropods for dispersal using a secreted elastic pedicel. Reproduction is predominantly sexual, though parthenogenesis occurs in some species with males rare or absent.
Vertagopus
Vertagopus is a genus of springtails in the family Isotomidae, comprising approximately 30 described species distributed across arctic, alpine, and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The genus includes both widespread and geographically restricted species, with some showing strict alpine specializations. Certain species, such as V. sarekensis, are notable for forming large aggregations and exhibiting coordinated group migration behaviors. The genus has been subject to recent taxonomic revision in eastern Siberia, where new species continue to be described.
Vertagopus arboreus
Vertagopus arboreus is a species of elongate-bodied springtail in the family Isotomidae. It is widely distributed across northern Eurasia and parts of Asia. The species is associated with arboreal and ground-level habitats in forested environments. Taxonomic status varies between sources, with some authorities treating it as a synonym of Vertagopus asiaticus.
Vertagopus pseudocinereus
Vertagopus pseudocinereus is a species of elongate springtail in the family Isotomidae, described from Arctic and northern temperate regions. It belongs to the order Entomobryomorpha, characterized by relatively long antennae and a slender body form compared to the more compact Poduromorpha. The species has been recorded across circumpolar and northern montane regions.
Willowsia platani
slender springtail
Willowsia platani is a species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae. First described by Nicolet in 1842, this small hexapod is characterized by its elongated, slender body form typical of the genus. The species is known from Europe and has been recorded across multiple continents including Asia. As a member of Collembola, it lacks wings and possesses the characteristic furcula (springing organ) that gives springtails their common name.
Willowsiinae
Willowsiinae is a subfamily of springtails (Collembola) in the family Entomobryidae, established by Yoshii and Suhardjono in 1989. These elongate-bodied springtails are distinguished by specific chaetotaxy patterns and antennal segment proportions. The subfamily includes several genera found across diverse habitats, though detailed biological studies remain limited for many constituent taxa.
Winnertzia
Winnertzia is a genus of mycophagous gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, subfamily Porricondylinae. The genus is exceptionally speciose, with 136 extant species currently recognized following recent taxonomic revisions. Species are documented from the Palearctic, Neotropical, and Australasian regions. Larvae develop in association with fungal substrates.
Xantholinus linearis
Linear Rove Beetle
Xantholinus linearis is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, characterized by an elongated, slender body form typical of the genus. The species was described by Blatchley in 1910. As a member of the tribe Xantholinini, it belongs to a group of rove beetles often associated with decaying organic matter and soil habitats. The specific epithet 'linearis' refers to the linear, slender body shape.
Xenylla
springtails
Xenylla is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Hypogastruridae, containing at least 120 described species. Members are small, soil-dwelling hexapods found across diverse biomes including tropical, desert, Antarctic, and Amazonian regions. The genus includes species used as biomarkers for soil pollution assessment, notably Xenylla welchi, which exhibits sensitive physiological responses to heavy metal contamination.
Xenylla grisea
Xenylla grisea is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Hypogastruridae, first described by Axelson in 1900. It is a small, soil-dwelling hexapod found across multiple geographic regions including the Azores, Andean regions, the Caribbean, and Atlantic islands. Laboratory studies have documented its reproductive biology and developmental timing under controlled conditions.
Zabrini
Seed-eating Ground Beetles
Zabrini is a tribe of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, subfamily Pterostichinae, with more than 750 described species across three genera. The tribe is divided into two subtribes: Amarina (containing Amara and Pseudamara) and Zabrina (containing Zabrus). Species are found primarily in the Holarctic region, with exceptional diversity in China. The common name 'Seed-eating Ground Beetles' reflects granivory observed in some species, though feeding habits vary considerably across the tribe.
Zerconidae
Zerconidae is a family of mesostigmatid mites found primarily in soil and litter habitats across the Northern Hemisphere. The family includes approximately 20 genera and numerous species, with documented occurrences in North America, Europe, Turkey, and other regions. These mites have been collected from diverse habitats including boreal forests, temperate woodlands, reforested areas, felled sites, and forest canopies. Several genera are recognized, including Zercon, Prozercon, Mixozercon, Boreozercon, and Halozercon.
Zygethobius
Zygethobius is a genus of centipedes in the family Henicopidae, order Lithobiomorpha. These small to medium-sized centipedes are characterized by 15 pairs of legs as adults, a defining trait of the order. The genus was established by Chamberlin in 1903 and contains species primarily found in western North America. Members of this genus are terrestrial predators adapted to specific microhabitats.
Zygona duplex
Zygona duplex is a species of soil-dwelling centipede in the family Geophilidae, described by Chamberlin in 1960. It belongs to the order Geophilomorpha, which comprises the most diverse group of centipedes characterized by their elongated, worm-like bodies with numerous leg pairs. The species is known from the United States.
Zygoribatula
Zygoribatula is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Oribatulidae. These small arachnids are part of the diverse soil-dwelling mite fauna. The genus was established by Berlese in 1916. Records indicate presence in Denmark and Norway, though the genus likely has broader distribution in suitable habitats.