ANIMALS IN THE SOIL

Soil is home to thousands of animals. Many are too small to be seen, but every single one is important.

All these creatures play a part in breaking down the rotting plants and dead animals and turning
them into nutrients for new plants to grow.

Hedgehog Ants
Hedgehogs hibernate or Ants live in large colonies
sleep underground and burrow in the soil to
during the winter in a build their nests. They eat a
burrow deep wide variety of food
underground
Earthworms Beetles and earwigs
Earthworms burrow There are lots of different
through the soil making types of beetles. Some eat
it looser and letting in wood and some eat plants.
air. The soil provides Some eat other creatures and
them food and a home. some eat dung. All of them
add nutrients back into the
soil. They also use the soil to
make a nest and lay their
eggs.

Earwigs eat roots, leaves and

dead creatures.
Woodlice Millipedes
Woodlice live in damp Millipedes mainly eat
places. They eat decaying things and help to
decaying things (dead turn them back into useful
wood and leaves). This things for the soil. The soil
breaks them down into provides the millipedes with
smaller pieces adding a home.
nutrients to the soil to
feed the plants
Centipedes Moles
Centipedes live under Moles are insectivores that
stones and in the soil. eat a variety of insects,
They eat other living helping to keep harmful
creatures. insect pest populations under
control. They help bring
oxygen into soil by digging
(burrowing) tunnels.
Choose 2 animals. Why do these animals need soil and how do the animals
help the soil?

Sample:
Ants help the soil by burrowing/ making tunnels in the soil which loosens
the soil up and allows air to enter. The soil also helps the ant by providing
it a home and a place to lay its eggs.