What kinds of food do small malacostracans eat?

Small malacostracans primarily consume detritus and plankton. Their specific dietary habits often depend on their environment and lifestyle:1

• Filter feeders: Burrowing and small groundwater malacostracans act as filter feeders, consuming microorganisms and bacteria found in sediments.1
• Terrestrial species: Terrestrial isopods and amphipods feed on forest leaf litter and algae located at tide lines.1
• Parasitic species: Some small malacostracans, particularly among amphipods and isopods, have evolved to parasitize other aquatic organisms, including fish, marine mammals, and reptiles.1

While larger malacostracans are typically carnivores or scavengers, these smaller members of the class Crustacea utilize a diverse range of organic matter to thrive in various aquatic and terrestrial habitats.12