Plastic-eating caterpillar could munch waste, scientists say [View all]

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http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39694553

Plastic-eating caterpillar could munch waste, scientists say

By Helen Briggs
BBC News

24 April 2017

From the section Science & Environment

A caterpillar that munches on plastic bags could hold the key to tackling plastic pollution, scientists say. Researchers at Cambridge University have discovered that the larvae of the moth, which eats wax in bee hives, can also degrade plastic. Experiments show the insect can break down the chemical bonds of plastic in a similar way to digesting beeswax.

Each year, about 80 million tonnes of the plastic polyethylene are produced around the world. The plastic is used to make shopping bags and food packaging, among other things, but it can take hundreds of years to decompose completely. However, caterpillars of the moth (Galleria mellonella) can make holes in a plastic bag in under an hour.
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Dr Bombelli and colleague Federica Bertocchini of the Spanish National Research Council have patented the discovery. They want to speed up the process of discovering the chemical secrets behind the natural degradation of plastic. They think microbes in the caterpillar - as well as the insect itself - might play a role in breaking down plastic. If the chemical process can be identified, it could lead to a solution to managing plastic waste in the environment.
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The research is published in the journal, Current Biology.