“We found the superworms fed a diet of just polystyrene not only survived, but even had marginal weight gains,” said study author Chris Rinke in a news release. Superworms on each diet completed their life cycle and, surprisingly, of the worms given only a plastic diet, more than 95% survived the course of the study - a survival rate on par with the other groups. The scientists tracked the worms, their eating habits, and their potential weight gain. Over the course of several weeks, researchers from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, split a total of 171 worms into three groups: one that ate only organic wheat bran, one that was fed a diet of polystyrene, and a third group that was not fed at all. That’s why scientists are exploring various ways to break down plastics. In 2018 alone, which is the latest data available, as of this writing, plastic production reached 396 million tons (360 million tonnes), reported the European trade association Plastics Europe, and demand is only expected to grow while recycling rates remain low. Polystyrene, a common ingredient in Styrofoam, is one of the most produced plastics in the world and can persist in the environment for decades.
Because they are inexpensive and durable, plastics - which are manufactured from organic polymers - can take decades to degrade. According to a study published in June 2022, the insect has a special bacterial enzyme in its gut and a unique appetite for polystyrene - a type of plastic most commonly found in Styrofoam and other plastic foams.ĭarkling beetles survive in a wide range of habitats, and so do plastics. Zophobas morio is a species of darkling beetle in the larval form that's native to a number of North American habitats, from deserts to forests and everything in between. A so-called “superworm” is equipped with its own new-to-science superpower: consuming and breaking down plastic products like Styrofoam.
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