Biodegradation of plastics by wax moths: A review

Plastic pollution is a global ecological disturbance occasioned by the instances of existence of manmade plastics such as polyethylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride that are present in the natural habitat. Conventional disposal ways like landfilling, incineration and recycling have remained inadequate and costly and/or environmentally unfriendly and as such, the emphasis should be moved towards biological disposal. Galleria mellonella and Achroia grisella are of particular interest as the beeswax, a natural food source, of the moths chews and oxidizes the polymer surfaces, and symbiotic gut microbiome which can enzymatically break down polymers have similar chemical properties to some synthetic polymers. Physical and chemical modification of the plastics and evidence of further breakdown are indicate by spectro-microscopic evidences. Although they are still not completely mineralized, these insects form an interesting case-study between entomology and biotechnology.