Earthworms, ants, termites, potato bugs and millipedes are all animals that live in soil. These animals burrow into the soil, create homes and help to balance the ecosystem.
Earthworms consume soil and extract nutrients from decomposing organic matter from leaves, trees, fruits and vegetables. Their waste then enriches the soil for new plant life to grow. Ants create colonies and intricate pathways in soil. Ants eat leaves and fungi that are found within the nutrient-rich soil. Termites also feed on organic matter and cultivate the soil. Other animals that live in the soil include the woodlouse, the pillbug and several types of bacteria.
