Waxworms caterpillars eat plastic, pollution but could also hurt bees

A species of caterpillar may provide answers on how to best eradicate plastic waste, a 300 million ton per year problem.

The waxworm, researchers discovered in 2017, is seemingly able to eat through common types of plastic — including polyethylene, a non-biodegradable type of plastic that is the most commonly used worldwide.

"They are voracious feeders during these larval stages," Bryan Cassone, an associate professor of biology at Brandon University, told USA TODAY.

Now researchers have offered an explanation: A study published Tuesday in the open peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B finds that the microorganisms in the wax worm's gut help them consume and metabolize plastics.

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