Perfect for young children studying living things and their habitats in their science lessons, or for young minibeast fans, this book explores the importance of insect decomposers such as the beetles that munch on dead trees, breaking them down and returning nutrients to the soil. It also looks at the flies that lay eggs on dead animals or food waste and whose grubs clean up these dead things to recycle their nutrients and clean up the planet. Then there are ants, collecting up crumbs of food to take back to their nests and the dung beetles that deal with - dung. Alongside the simple text, fantastic close-up photographs show the insects at work.

The book is part of a series, The Insects that Run Our World, for children aged 6 plus. The titles are: The Pollinators, The Decomposers, The Predators and the Prey and The Helpers and the Pests.The books include information about how insects are threatened by habitat changes and pollution and how we can help them.