Is There a Larva That Eats Styrofoam? ... Could It Be a Solution to the Waste Problem?

A recent study by a research team at the University of Queensland in Australia revealed that the larvae of the darkling beetle (Zophobas morio), known as "superworms," can consume expanded polystyrene. The findings were published in a journal issued by the Microbiology Society.
[Photo by The University of Queensland]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The issue of plastic waste is considered a critical task in responding to the climate crisis. Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, the increased use of disposable products has heightened awareness of this problem. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned in its plastic outlook report that if plastic production and consumption continue as they are, plastic waste could accumulate to three times the current amount by 2060.

The problem lies in how plastic waste is managed. According to the OECD, as of 2019, 22% of plastic waste was released into the general environment as microplastics. The recycling rate was only 9%, while incineration and landfill accounted for 19% and 50%, respectively. Incinerating plastic also causes other pollution issues. Additionally, undecomposed plastic discarded into the ocean or soil contaminates ecosystems and threatens human health.

Recently, foreign media reports have drawn attention by revealing that a research team from an Australian university discovered larvae that can consume and break down expanded polystyrene, also known by the brand name 'Styrofoam.'

According to the UK Guardian, on the 9th (local time), a research team from the University of Queensland in Australia published findings in a journal issued by the Microbiology Society that the larvae of the superworm, Zophobas morio, can consume expanded polystyrene.

Zophobas morio is a species of darkling beetle commonly found. The research team confirmed that the superworm larvae harbor bacterial enzymes in their intestines capable of breaking down expanded polystyrene.

The researchers divided the superworms into three groups and conducted a three-week experiment. Two groups were fed expanded polystyrene and wheat bran, the husk of cereal grains, respectively, while the remaining group was not given any food.

As a result, the superworms fed expanded polystyrene survived. Moreover, their body weight slightly increased, suggesting that the superworms derived energy from the expanded polystyrene.

However, although these superworms developed into normal adults after pupation, their intestinal microbial diversity decreased, and they became vulnerable to potential pathogens. This indicates that while survival is possible by consuming expanded polystyrene, it negatively affects their health.

For more detailed observation, the research team utilized metagenomic analysis, a method that studies the genomes of multiple species in the intestine simultaneously. Through this, they identified several enzymes in the superworm’s gut capable of breaking down polystyrene and styrene.

The research team aims to enable superworms to decompose plastic waste by mixing food waste or agricultural by-products, but their long-term goal is to develop technology that uses machines to finely shred plastic waste at recycling plants and then decompose it using enzymes. They also hope that such biotechnology will increase the benefits of plastic recycling and reduce the amount of plastic waste sent to landfills.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.