Plastic-eating caterpillar could munch waste, scientists say

[nitpicker]

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.
(snip)

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.
(snip)

The research is published in the journal, Current Biology.

[Warren DeMontague]

1. now, if only they could find one that feeds on bullshit.

preferably in 140 character increments.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. +1000!

[mdbl]

5. ROFL!

[mr_lebowski]

3. Wouldn't they already be absolutely everywhere?

I mean, like ... is it actually 'good for them' to eat this crap, or do they just die afterwards?

Just askin' ...

[mdbl]

6. I was wondering this too

do they defecate polymers? What part of the ecosystem will consume the caterpillars and will it make them sick?

[PatSeg]

7. Good question

And is their excrement toxic to the environment?

[SCantiGOP]

9. There are a lot of cases

Where animals can eat and digest things that are toxic to humans and they don't damage the environment. Hope that this is how this works.

[PatSeg]

10. Hopefully that is case

Nature can be extraordinary and may be able to undo some of the damage that humans have done.

[nikibatts]

4. What happens to the caterpillars? What eats them?

The only thing I can think of to get rid of these plastic bags is fire and toxic residue would kill us all.

[duncang]

8. Don't think they are wanting to breed more of them

But they want to use the microbes in the caterpillars gut to biodegrade plastic.

If they tried breeding them a excess of larva could wipe out bee hives by eating the honey combs.

The thing that gets me is they want to patent it and haven't even isolated the bacteria yet. Also the question of patenting a naturally living organism to me shouldn't happen.

[PatSeg]

11. That's depressing

People seem to want to patent everything these days.

[LakeArenal]

12. I have visions of a new lady bird beetle infestation. Never get rid of them ever.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

13. Weird, I was thinking this morning that we need a critter that eats plastic.

Wow, I was thinking along the line of genetically engineered bacteria, and how would we test against unforeseen consequences.

And then I come across this!
This is great news.

[BHDem53]

14. I can see the wheels

turning in Roger Cormans head.