Scientists at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences have discovered that darkling beetles are capable of processing polystyrene, a plastic that takes hundreds of years to decompose. Using a specially designed mouthpart, the larvae can turn pieces of disposable tableware and kitchen sponges into dust in six weeks. Marmorated cockroaches and mealworms demonstrate even more impressive results.
What is the secret behind the unique biochemistry of these larvae that can digest this synthetic polymer? Are these insects truly considered pests in agriculture? And why should they be fed additional food in addition to plastic? Alexander Bastrakov, PhD in Biology and a researcher at the Laboratory of Innovative Technologies, discussed these and other issues on the program "[Not] Fiction."