The root-eaters are a well known pest of many garden crops. The fungus eaters consume mycorrhizal and saprophytic fungi. Mites and Other Arthropods Predaceous nematodes and all the other nematodes are then eaten by nematode-eating mites, and these in turn are eaten by predaceous mites. Predaceous mites also eat the various types of nematodes, as well as the simple mites and micro-arthropods. Saprophytic fungi are also eaten by simple mites and other micro-arthropods.
Mites are eight legged tiny creatures related to other arachnids like spiders.
Micro-arthropods have one hundred times as much carbon compared to nitrogen as do fungi, so when they eat saprophytic fungi they give off a great deal of nitrogen for roots. Just as in a spider web, there are connections everywhere. If you provide lots of organic matter, you are feeding, directly and indirectly, many organisms that will provide important nutrients to plant roots. If you rake, blow, or carry away plant material, you stop this process. If you apply fungicides, miticides, nematicides or other poisons to the soil, you may kill the entire food web.