In a surprising discovery, a biology professor and amateur beekeeper has uncovered an unexpected property of the saliva produced by wax worms.
Beekeepers often consider wax worms to be pests, as they parasitize beehives, consuming wax and sometimes even bee larvae. However, in the context of pet breeding, wax worms are seen as a nutritious food source due to their high fat content, ease of breeding, and ability to survive in low-temperature conditions.
For all of us, wax worms could be a savior, as the digestive enzymes in their saliva can break down the structure of plastic bags, helping to address the plastic waste crisis that has plagued humanity for decades.
Wax worms. (Photo: National Geographic).
In initial studies, scientists discovered that a special enzyme can break down polyethylene (a material commonly used in plastic bottle production) in just a few hours at room temperature. Wax worms may open up the possibility for effective and low-cost plastic recycling.
This discovery came after a scientist, who is also an amateur beekeeper, found a beehive infested with wax worms. Observing that the wax worm larvae could eat through plastic bags, Professor Federica Bertocchini had a new idea. His research clearly states that the saliva of this insect may contain “a digestive enzyme that can revolutionize [the cleanup process for pollution waste].”
“My beehive was heavily infested with wax worms, and I cleaned them out and dumped them into a plastic bag,” Professor Bertocchini from the Biological Research Center in Madrid recounted. “After a while, I discovered holes in the bag and saw that it was not just chewed through; there was a [chemical degradation process occurring], and that was the beginning of the story.”
The enzyme produced by wax worms can corrode plastic. (Photo: CSIC Communications Department/PA).
Polyethylene accounts for 30% of all plastic materials, widely used in the production of bottles and packaging, contributing significantly to global waste. The current large-scale recycling process uses many toxic chemicals, yet the end products have low value.
Breaking down the chemical structure could allow us to reclaim recyclable materials and even continue producing plastic to limit the creation of new plastic. According to researchers, the digestive enzymes found in wax worms can be easily synthesized, breaking down barriers that have hindered the recycling industry from effectively processing polymer plastics. The process will also not require high temperatures as before, as the digestive enzymes can function at room temperature, in water, and in neutral pH environments.
The research process is still in its early stages, and the new method has not yet been scaled to industrial levels. However, scientists are optimistic that households may soon have their own plastic waste decomposition systems.
Researchers are also trying to find another insect species that possesses enzymes similar to those of wax worms and have achieved certain successes. A study published in 2021 showed that bacteria in soil and seawater are evolving to consume plastic, while another report indicated that there are 30,000 different enzymes capable of degrading 10 types of plastic.
Plastic waste continues to be a pressing issue for the environment. Photo: Getty Images
Plastic waste remains a significant problem, with millions of tons of new plastic being discarded each year, “invading” areas such as the summit of Mount Everest and the deepest ocean trench, the Mariana Trench. The previously ineffective recycling process is set to be elevated to new heights with biological methods, rather than relying on toxic chemicals as in the past.
Within the saliva of wax worms, scientists have identified two types of proteins that can corrode plastic. The hypothesis suggests that the ability to consume plastic evolved from wax worms obtaining nutrients from bee wax. This ability may also serve as a defense mechanism against certain plants, coincidentally, the digestive enzymes of wax worms can break down the bonds of some plastics that have a similar structure to toxins produced by plants.
