Bioremediation of Plastic Waste: A Review of Degradation Capabilities in Galleria mellonella and Achroia grisella

Excessive plastic waste pollution is a critical environmental challenge. Traditional plastic waste management methods, such as landfilling, incineration, and recycling, are often inadequate and environmentally harmful. Among environment-friendly bioremediation strategies, the degradative potential of insects, particularly greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) and the lesser wax moth (Achroia grisella) larvae are promising. This review provides a comparative assessment of plastic degradation capabilities in G. mellonella and A. grisella, aiming to refine bioremediation strategies. A systematic search of PubMed yielded eight relevant studies published between 2015 and 2024. Analysis revealed distinct degradative profiles for each species; G. mellonella exhibited broad-spectrum activity, effectively degrading diverse plastics like low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polystyrene, as evidenced by substantial mass loss and physical deterioration; conversely, A. grisella demonstrated exceptional efficiency in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) degradation with rapid breakdown initiation, but showed lower efficacy with LDPE. These findings suggest G. mellonella’s suitability for managing a wider range of plastic waste, while A. grisella offers a targeted solution for HDPE. A potential synergy through co-deployment of these species could maximize the degradation of diverse plastic pollutants.