Hungry Worms Could Help Solve Plastic Pollution

The article discusses the potential of wax moth larvae, known as wax worms, to help address plastic pollution by breaking down polyethylene, the most widely produced and environmentally persistent plastic. Discovered by European researchers in 2017, wax worms naturally consume polyethylene due to its chemical similarity to beeswax, their traditional food source. Studies led by Dr. Bryan Cassone at Brandon University revealed that around 2,000 wax worms can degrade an entire polyethylene bag in 24 hours, with their gut bacteria playing a crucial role in this process. The bacteria, including a resilient strain of Acinetobacter, metabolize polyethylene into glycol and convert it into lipids stored in the worms’ bodies. However, a diet solely consisting of polyethylene is not sustainable for wax worms, as they lose weight and die within days without additional nutrients. Researchers suggest that supplementing their diet with feeding stimulants could enhance their survival and plastic degradation efficiency. Moving forward, two main strategies are proposed: mass-producing wax worms with nutritional support to