Soil Animals
1. Microscopic animals (requires magnification to see well)Go to #2
Macroscopic animals (does not require magnification to identify it)Go to #4
2. Animals with large claws and 8 legsPseudoscorpions
Elongated animals with at least 10 pairs of legsCentipedes and Millipedes
Worms with no segmentation, pointed endsRoundworms
Insects with 6 legsGo to #3
 pseudoscorpions |
 millipedes |
 centipedes |
3. Oval or very short insects that may have small prongs visible at the end of the abdomenSpringtails
More elongate animals, either no tail prongs, or very long filaments presentWingless Insects
4. Macroscopic worms that are tan with an expanded headBipalium
Segmented worms that are red, gray, or brownEarthworms
Macroscopic animals with legsGo to #5
5. Elongate animals with more than 20 legsCentipedes and Millipedes
Oval animals with 10-16 legs (Roly Polys)Sow Bugs
Animals with two body segments and 8 legsSpiders
Animals with one body segment and 8 legsTicks and Mites
Animals with 6 legs (Insects)Go to #6
 springtails |
 sow bugs |
 mites |
6. Segmented larvae with small legs and no wingsInsect Larvae
Large flat insects with large oval wingsRoaches
Black elongate insects with large abdominal pinchersEarwigs
Small insects with constrictions between the body segmentsAnts
Insects with hard outerwing covers over the abdomenBeetles
 roaches |
 earwigs |
 insect larvae |