Pick up some soil or compost, and you may have hundreds of soil nematodes roaming around in your hand. These invertebrates are often called worms, but they actually have very little in common with the well-known earthworm. There are thousands of different species of nematodes that live in the soil. Some species eat bacteria, others eat plant roots and fungus, while still other nematodes like the genus Mononchus will prey on other nematodes.
A nematode with it’s predator, the mite.
Nematodes have tiny brains made up of about three hundred brain cells, compared to our one hundred billion, but they are still capable of responding to heat, touch, and even light. Many nematodes also have the ability to go into hibernation when food is not available, and they can live without food for over a year. Finally, nematodes can even be frozen in liquid nitrogen for over several years and still come out alive.
While nematodes are often considered microscopic, adult nematodes of some species can grow over 1mm long. So bring a magnifying glass the next time you inspect your compost, and see if you can find some nematodes of your own!