Scientists discover plastic-eating insect with potential to combat pollution

SCIENTISTS IN KENYA HAVE IDENTIFIED A PLASTIC-EATING INSECT SPECIES THAT COULD ASSIST IN REDUCING GLOBAL POLLUTION.

THE KENYAN LESSER MEALWORM-

THE LARVAL STAGE OF THE ALPHITOBIUS DARKLING BEETLE-

HAS DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY TO BREAK DOWN POLYSTYRENE

—BETTER KNOWN AS STYROFOAM.

POLYSTYRENE IS PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO RECYCLE DUE TO ITS DURABILITY AND THE COST-INTENSIVE PROCESSING METHODS REQUIRED TO BREAK IT DOWN.

THIS MATERIAL MAKES UP AS MUCH AS 35 PERCENT OF ALL LANDFILL WASTE-

WHERE IT CAN TAKE 500 YEARS TO DECOMPOSE AND PERSIST IN THE ENVIRONMENT FOR OVER A MILLION YEARS.

BUT THE KENYAN LESSER MEALWORM MAY PRESENT AN UNLIKELY WAY TO HELP COMBAT THIS.

IN A MONTH-LONG EXPERIMENT, RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT THESE LARVAE COULD SURVIVE ON A DIET OF POLYSTYRENE.

THE WORMS WERE ABLE TO CONSUME OVER 11% OF THE PROVIDED POLYSTYRENE WHEN FED A MIXED DIET.

THE SECRET MAY LIE IN THE LARVAE’S GUT BACTERIA.

SCIENTISTS IDENTIFIED MICROBIAL GROUPS WITHIN THE BUGS WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ENZYMES THAT BREAK DOWN SYNTHETIC PLASTICS.

THESE BACTERIA APPEAR TO ADAPT WHEN THE INSECTS CONSUME PLASTIC, POTENTIALLY OPENING THE DOOR TO REPLICATING THESE ENZYMES FOR INDUSTRIAL USE.

FUTURE STUDIES WILL REPORTEDLY LOOK INTO HOW TO ISOLATE AND SCALE UP THE INTERNAL MECHANISMS THESE BUGS USE TO CONSUME POLYSTYRENE.

AS WELL AS TESTING WETHER THE INSECTS CAN EAT UP OTHER TYPES OF PLASTIC.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – I’M JACK AYLMER.