Can insects digest plastics?

Some insects can digest some plastics. There are many types of plastic with different chemical structure, some insects are able to digest some plastics that are chemically similar to natural polymers. Actually the insects would just chew it up, it... read more

Some insects can digest some plastics. There are many types of plastic with different chemical structure, some insects are able to digest some plastics that are chemically similar to natural polymers. Actually the insects would just chew it up, it would be their intestinal bacteria that help with the digesting. read more

Scientists from Cambridge University just discovered that the moth’s larva can actually eat and break down plastic in a similar way to beeswax, which the moth regularly consumes. Its digestive system breaks up the chemical bonds of polyethylene and makes the insects a powerful tool against the seemingly unending flood of plastic waste around the globe. read more