Forest Litter, Hand Lens Views

This week we take a look at one other group of species found in the forest litter, those that we can best observe using a hand lens.  Springtails are tiny insects colored gray, brown, and white.  They are wingless with a worm-like body, and are named for a unique abdominal structure that allows them to suddenly jump.  They are extremely numerous, ranging from 500 to 50,000 individuals per square meter.  Springtails may form dense groups that come out in winter on top of new fallen snow earning them the nickname “snow fleas.”  They are an important species of decomposer feeding on fungi, decaying vegetation, and live vegetation.

Soil mites are members of the arachnid family, the same as spiders.  When viewed up close, they may look like tiny spiders having four pairs of legs, and a rounded, glossy abdomen in a variety of dark earth tones.  Soil mites are decomposers, as well as predators.  They feed mostly on decaying vegetation, but also eat springtails, round worms, and fungi.

Pseudoscorpions, also called false scorpions, look like real scorpions without the dagger-like abdomen.  They carry no poison, but have two large claw-like appendages in front.  They are predators of springtails, soil mites, and certain worm species.  Pseudoscorpions have no eyes or ears, living in the dark soil just below the leaf litter.  Almost as numerous as springtails and soil mites, they depend on scent and vibration to locate their prey.

Other animal species that can be observed with either your eyes or a hand lends include ants and beetles.  These two groups are quite diverse and can be found in all habitats and soil types.

Beetles make up the largest order of insects with over 300,000 known species.  They can be found under decaying logs, under loose bark, and in the leaf litter.  They are especially attracted to light sources at night.  The larval stage of a beetle is called a grub, often found in shallow soil layers both on the forest floor as well as in our own backyards.  Beetles feed on decaying vegetation, live roots, and other plant parts.  They are a major food source for a variety of birds, mammals, arachnids, and other predatory insects.

Ants are another insect group, forming vast colonies organized into social castes.  There is a single queen in each colony plus thousands of workers and soldiers.  Each individual has an appointed job serving the colony.  Ants provide several ecological functions in any habitat: predators, scavengers, pollinators, recyclers, and soil aerators.  Ant species are split into four groups identified as carpenter ants, little black ants, red ants and fire ants.

Forests are stopping grounds for many migrating species of birds, mammals, and insects.  Forest litter is an excellent layer of insulation, and many of the species we have reviewed are active throughout the year, providing food for migrators and ecological services to the other year-round inhabitants.  I encourage you to get out and observe this exciting habitat as you hike the forest paths this autumn.