Australian researchers have discovered that the Zophobas morio “superworm” can feed on polystyrene, a common ocean pollutant, a discovery that could be the key to plastic recycling.
This species, a beetle whose larva is sold as food for pets, has a bacterial enzyme in its intestine that allows it to degrade this thermoplastic, the University of Queensland said in a statement on Friday.
This discovery could contribute to solving one of the most serious problems of the global economy, which produced about 360 million tonnes of plastic in 2018, which usually ends up in oceans and threatens marine ecosystems.
This beetle species, which reach a maximum size of between 5 and 6 cm, are native to Central America and the northern part of South America.
