Influence of a diet of different types of plastics on the Zophobas morio larvae development

Nowadays, the problem of plastic waste recycling and treatment is very relevant. Scientists discovered that the larvae of certain insects, including beetles of the Zophobas morio species, could feed on the polystyrene plastics. This becomes possible because of bacteria in their intestines. The paper proposes to use larvae of the Zophobas morio beetles in the plastics biological treatment, since it is believed that they would be able to feed on plastics without any harm to health. As a result of the experiment, it was found that a diet of different types of plastics has a rather negative effect on the larvae vital activity. Different types of plastic cause a delay in pupation, and a decrease in the average weight of the larvae. Our hypothesis that larvae of the Zophobas morio beetle species would be able to feed on only the plastics without harm to themselves was partially confirmed. The paper assumes that for normal development and vital activity, larvae of the Zophobas morio beetle species require mixed nutrition.

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