Kenyan Mealworm's Plastic-Eating Abilities Offer New Hope for Waste Reduction

Scientists discover a unique African insect capable of degrading polystyrene, potentially revolutionizing plastic waste management.

The Kenyan lesser mealworm, a larval form of the Alphitobius darkling beetle, can consume and break down polystyrene, a common form of plastic waste.
Research highlights the potential for using the mealworm's gut bacteria to develop microbial solutions for large-scale plastic degradation.
Mealworms fed a diet of polystyrene and bran showed improved survival and efficiency in breaking down plastic compared to those on a polystyrene-only diet.
The discovery is significant as it identifies the first insect species native to Africa with the ability to biodegrade plastic, offering new insights for regional waste management.
Further studies aim to explore the scalability of enzyme production for recycling and test the mealworm's ability to degrade other types of plastics.