What do arthropods eat?

Arthropods are organized into four groups based on what they eat: shredders, predators, herbivores and fungal feeders. Shredders eat bacteria and fungi on the surface of dead plant matter and can eat live tree tissue. Predators eat other bugs. Herbivores eat plants, particularly roots. Fungal feeders eat fungi and bacteria.

Arthropods are bugs with jointed legs. They have no backbones and rely on their exoskeletons to protect them. Arthropods comprise 80 percent of all animals on Earth. Different species of arthropods vary greatly in size and diet. They tend to dwell in soil or sand and can be very beneficial to the environment.