African Invertebrates 62(2): 411–425 (2021) doi: 10.3897/AfrInvertebr.62.67875 RESEARCH ARTICLE https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net Earthworm species occurrence in agroecosystems in the Midlands, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Thembeka C. Nxele1,3, Tarombera Mwabvu2,3, Inam Yekwayo4 1 KwaZulu-Natal Museum, Private Bag 9070, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa 2 School of Biology & Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Private Bag X11283, Mbombela, 1200, South Africa 3 School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Westville campus, Durban, 4001, South Africa 4 Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Private Bag X1, Mthatha, 5127, South Africa Corresponding author: Thembeka C. Nxele (
[email protected]) Academic editor: Burgert Muller | Received 26 April 2021 | Accepted 2 August 2021 | Published 12 August 2021 http://zoobank.org/A87C1D0F-0D1A-4EBD-AAE4-01E8D7850053 Citation: Nxele TC, Mwabvu T, Yekwayo I (2021) Earthworm species occurrence in agroecosystems in the Midlands, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. African Invertebrates 62(2): 411–425. https://doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.62.67875 Abstract Little is known about the species composition of earthworms in agroecosystems in South Africa even though earthworms provide soil ecosystem services and are useful biological indicators of changes in the habitats. Given the land use and management impact biodiversity, the aim of this study was to docu- ment earthworm species that occur under cultivated land in the KwaZulu-Natal