Researchers at the University of Queensland have found that a common species of worm with a taste for polystyrene may significantly contribute to plastic recycling.
The team, led by Dr Chris Rinke from UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, found that the Zophobas morio—known as ‘superworm’—enjoys munching on polystyrene and can metabolise it due to a particular bacterial enzyme in its gut.
Superworms are the larvae of the Zophobas morio beetle, native to Central and tropical parts of South America, and grow up to 60 millimetres (2.5 inches) in length.
The worms were fed diets of either polystyrene foam, wheat bran or put on fasting diets over a three-week period….