'We could have gigantic worm farms with millions of worms and feed them polystyrene. The insects produce enzymes as they slice and dice through the white stuff. The scientists studied how the larvae break down some of the staggering plastic waste humans produce. The secret lies in the guts of these 'superworms,' specifically their microbiomes. In their natural environment, these so-called 'superworms'' eat various types of decaying matter, such as rotten wood, leaves and even animal carcasses. Scientific American/University of Queensland YouTube The microbiomes in the guts of the 'superworms' allows them to survive on a plastic diet. 'Their main goal is to gain as much weight as they can to then become a pupa and a beetle. 'They're really eating machines,' Rinke said in an interview on NPR's Morning Edition. They published a study in the journal Microbial Genomics earlier this month that found the bugs could survive on polystyrene alone, and in 66.7% of cases, transform into beetles on that relatively poor diet. These so-called 'superworms' could one day help rid landfills of this waste and thus put a dent in one of the drivers of global warming.Ĭhris Rinke and other researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia are studying the larvae of the darkling beetle - or zophobas morio, its scientific name. Scientists hope the larvae of the darkling beetle - nicknamed 'superworms' - might solve the world's trash crisis thanks to their uncanny ability to eat polystyrene.Ī bunch of small but hungry bugs might hold the key to saving the planet thanks to their uncanny ability to devour polystyrene - the material behind plastic foam.

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