Plastic polymers everywhere in our lives, and although their flexibility makes them ideal for a variety of uses, finding means to get rid of them effectively represents a great challenge. Recently, a variety of plastic insects have been discovered that have the wonderful ability to consume petro plastic and deteriorate quickly. Focus on the larvae of lightning Great wax moth (Galleria Milonella)) -It is known as wax worms-and the low-density-density-density of the polyethylene. Scientists have discovered the amount of plastic consumption, relative contributions from the insect and microbium in the biological decomposition process, and the effects of plastic swallowing on the larvae.
Polyethylene deterioration by wax worms. Left: A plastic bag after exposure to about 100 wax worms for 12 hours; Right: Zoom the area referred to in the picture on the left. Credit image: Pumbli And othersDOI: 10.1016/J.Cub.2017.02.060.
Plastic plays a fundamental role in modern life, but its resistance to biological decomposition makes it very difficult to get rid of it.
In 2017, biologists proved that larvae in the Great Wax Moths could degrade from polyethylene plastic.
Polyethylene is the most common plastic in the world, as more than 100 million tons of polyethylene are produced in the world every year.
This plastic is chemically flexible, which makes it resistant to decomposition and can take decades or even hundreds of years for complete deterioration.
“About 2000 wax worms can break the entire polyethylene bag in less than 24 hours, although we believe that joint stabilization with nutritional steroids such as sugars can reduce the number of worms to a large extent,” he said. Dr. Brian CassonBiologist at Brandon University.
“However, understanding the biological mechanisms and the consequences of fitness associated with the biological decomposition is the key to the use of wax worms for plastic therapy on a large scale.”
By using a group of technologies that extend animal physiology, material science, molecular biology and jumom, Dr. Casson and his colleagues studied the interesting relationship between wax worms, bacterial microbium, their potential for plastic biological decomposition on a large scale, as well as the potential effects of wax tumor.
Dr. Casson said: “This is similar to us to eat a slice of meat – if we consume a lot of saturated and unsaturated fats, they become stored in fatty tissues as fat reserves, instead of using them as energy.”
“While the wax worms will easily consume polyethylene, this research also indicates that this ends in the end in a quick death.”
“They do not survive more than a few days on a plastic diet only and lose a large mass.”
“However, we are optimistic that we can formulate a common complement that does not restore it only to the normal levels, but it goes beyond it.”
The researchers have identified two ways that wax worms can contribute to solutions to the ongoing plastic pollution crisis.
Dr. Casson said: “First, we can be the back waxy worms to follow a diet for polyethylene with its complement as part of the circular economy.”
“Secondly, we can explore the re -engineering of the plastic biological decomposition path outside the animal.”
“As an additional benefit, the mass production of wax worms will also generate a large surplus of insect biomass, which may represent an additional economic opportunity in aquaculture.”
“Our initial data indicates that it can become part of a very feeding diet for commercial food.”
Authors Results Today in The annual conference of the experimental biology community In Antwerp, Belgium.
_____
Brian J. Cason And others. Plastic biological decomposition by insects. Seb 2025Summary # A17.4