A groundbreaking discovery has emerged from Bavaria, Germany, where researchers from the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL) have identified a new species of earthworm, named Helodrilus bavaricus. This species is endemic to the region, marking a significant find in the study of soil biodiversity.
The discovery occurred on a farm near Rotthalmünster, where a farmer has been practicing direct seeding for the past five years. This sustainable farming technique has fostered a thriving population of earthworms, with counts reaching an astonishing 600 worms per square meter—four times the regional average.
During a field investigation in late April 2024, researchers identified eight known species of earthworms, but were surprised to find others that did not match any existing classification keys. This prompted the involvement of taxonomists, including Dr. Norbert Höser and Hungarian experts Prof. Csaba Csuzdi and Prof. Dr. Timea Szederjesi, who systematically classified and described the new species.
Measuring just a few centimeters in length and displaying a pale pink hue, Helodrilus bavaricus is believed to be a relic from the Ice Age, surviving only in a small, ice-free area of southern Bavaria. This discovery highlights the importance of soil organisms and their role in agricultural ecosystems.
As research continues, scientists aim to determine the distribution range of this new species and enhance the understanding of soil-dwelling fauna, which remains significantly less studied compared to surface-dwelling species.