Reproductive effects of the insecticide acephate on a springtail and an enchytraeid in a subtropical soil.

This article focuses on the chronic effects of acephate, an organophosphate insecticide, on the reproduction of two important soil fauna species: the springtail *Folsomia candida* and the enchytraeid *Enchytraeus crypticus*. The study assessed these effects in both natural Cambisol soil, common in subtropical regions of South Brazil, and tropical artificial soil (TAS), revealing significant reproduction reductions ranging from 38% to 49%, with sensitivity varying by species and soil type. Springtails were more sensitive to acephate in TAS, while enchytraeids showed greater sensitivity in Cambisol, highlighting the influence of soil properties on pesticide toxicity. The findings emphasize the need to include diverse soil organisms and natural soils in ecological risk assessments of pesticides like acephate to better understand and mitigate their impacts on nontarget soil communities.