Mealworm larvae breaks polystyrene

This is a news story, published by The Conversation, that relates primarily to the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology news.

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mealworm

The Conversation

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Plastic-eating insect discovered in Kenya

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Scientists from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology have found that the larvae of the Kenyan lesser mealworm can chew through polystyrene and host bacteria in their guts that help break down the material.

This is the first time that an insect species native to Africa has been found to do this.

By studying these natural plastic-eaters’, we hope to create new tools that help get rid of plastic waste faster.

The Kenyan lesser mealworm’s ability to consume polystyrene suggests that it could play a role in natural waste reduction, especially for types of plastic that are resistant to conventional recycling methods.

Researchers hope to figure out if the enzymes can be produced at scale for recycling waste.

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