This mealworm is a subspecies of the darkling beetle, Alphitobius diaperinus, which has shown a remarkable ability to consume synthetic plastics, particularly polystyrene.

Polystyrene can remain in landfills for up to 500 years, and recycling it is often costly and inefficient.

In a promising development, researchers have discovered a Kenyan mealworm species that can digest styrofoam, potentially offering a biological solution to plastic waste.

Plastic pollution has become a pressing global issue, with over 460 million metric tons produced annually and an estimated 20 million metric tons littering landfills and oceans.

Africa is facing a plastic waste crisis, projected to generate 116 million tons of plastic waste by 2060, with alarming amounts discarded every minute in sub-Saharan Africa.

Among the most problematic plastics is polystyrene, commonly found in food containers and insulation, which poses significant disposal challenges due to its non-biodegradable nature.

Genetic analysis indicates that these larvae can degrade polystyrene at a rate of up to 0.12 mg daily, outperforming traditional recycling methods.

The beetle's gut contains bacteria capable of breaking down polystyrene into less harmful components, further enhancing its potential as a solution to plastic waste.

While the mealworms can ingest hydrogen and carbon from styrofoam, they require additional nutrition from other sources to thrive.

However, scientists caution against the indiscriminate release of mealworms into landfills, emphasizing the need for further research on the bacteria and enzymes involved in styrofoam digestion.

Future studies will explore the mealworms' ability to digest other types of plastics and assess their health post-digestion.

This discovery highlights the importance of scientific research in finding unexpected environmental solutions, despite facing funding challenges and public skepticism.