What You Don’t Know Won’t Hurt You: A Survey of Cryptic Insect Biodiversity on Duke University’s Campus

We surveyed soil-dwelling insects and other arthropods across eight sites on Duke University’s West Campus, collecting and identifying specimens to the taxonomic order. Results revealed Acari (mites and ticks) and Collembola (springtails) as the dominant groups, reflecting their adaptability to varied microhabitatsand reliance on moist, organically rich soils. Site-specific diversity highlighted the influence of vegetation, microclimate, and habitat structure on insect and arthropod populations. Based on site-specific data, Duke’s campus supports millions of arthropods, underscoring the ecological significance of urban green spaces.These findings emphasize the importance of biodiversity conservation in urban ecosystems and call for further research on the critical ecological roles of soil arthropods.