Is Hormogaster elisae (Oligochaeta, Hormogastridae) a predator of mites and springtails?

The aim of this work was to determine whether the endogeic earthworm Hormogaster elisae [1] is involved in the active or passive predation of microarthropods at El Molar (Madrid, Spain). Different techniques were employed to study the gut content, and the casts of H. elisae earthworms cultivated in the laboratory. The casts consisted mainly of mineral particles and plant remains as well as a few microarthropods, nematodes and their remains. The gut contents were similar in composition, although no microarthropod remains were found, except for a single springtail (order Poduromorpha) in one earthworm's gizzard. The results suggest that H. elisae may accidentally ingest microarthropods along with soil. The microarthropods found in the casts may have colonized them after their deposition since none were found in isolated casts.