Detrivores

As we head deeper into autumn, leaves and other fading plant material will continue to fall and gather on the forest floor. It happens every year and most of us probably don’t give it much thought. But what happens to all those leaves (and other dead and decaying matter) next is critically important for healthy ecosystems and a healthy planet.  

You’ve probably heard of herbivores (eat only plants), carnivores (eat only meat), and maybe even omnivores (eat plants and meat), but there is one other type of consumer in ecosystems that is easy to overlook, the detritivores (eat only detritus- dead plant or animal matter or animal waste). 

By eating only dead material like decaying plants, animals or mushrooms, detritivores play a vital nutrient recycling role converting decaying matter to rich soil critical for future plant growth and healthy ecosystems. These creatures are also a valuable source of food for organisms further up the food chain, like frogs, birds, and mammals. 

So the next time you come across common detritivore insects like millipedes, centipedes, rolly-pollies, and beetles, tip your hat because they play a critical role in healthy ecosystems and without them, we just might be overwhelmed by decaying matter crawling with disease!