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Insect-mediated polystyrene (PS) degradation: Mechanisms, efficiency, ecological impacts, and application prospects
Summary
Polystyrene (a common plastic used in things like foam cups and takeout containers) barely breaks down in nature, letting it pile up in soil and oceans and eventually work its way into our food and bodies as microplastics. This review pulls together research showing that certain insects—like mealworms and waxworms—can actually eat and partially break down this plastic thanks to special bacteria living in their guts, hinting at a possible eco-friendly way to deal with plastic waste. That said, the science is still young: studies vary a lot in methods, so more standardized research is needed before this could become a real-world solution.
Plastic pollution is a critical global issue. Polystyrene (PS) is highly stable and degrades slowly, causing massive accumulation in ecosystems and severe threats to soil, marine life, and human health. Recent studies have demonstrated that the synergy between insects and their gut microbiota can achieve PS biodegradation, offering a novel green remediation approach. This paper systematically reviews insect species capable of PS degradation and the core roles of gut microbiota and their enzyme systems. It elaborates the multi-stage mechanisms of physical activation, enzymatic oxidation, depolymerization-mineralization, and bioassimilation, and analyzes influencing factors such as PS properties and insect developmental stage, along with the ecotoxicological effects and application potential of this process. Evidence confirms that insects such as Tenebrio molitor , Zophobas atratus , and Galleria mellonella oxidize and metabolize PS via symbiosis with gut microbes, leading to surface damage, molecular weight reduction, and oxygen incorporation. Part of the PS carbon is mineralized to CO 2 or assimilated into biomass. However, current research exhibits marked methodological heterogeneity, with studies differing in PS substrate forms, experimental designs, and detection endpoints, hindering cross‑study comparison of degradation efficiency. Furthermore, most studies lack standardized validation such as isotope tracing, undermining the reliability and comparability of results. Unified experimental and reporting standards, along with wider adoption of validated methods, are urgently needed to underpin future research and application. • Reviews insect-gut microbe symbiosis in PS biodegradation. • Elucidates PS degradation pathways & validated metabolites. • Summarizes PS property changes & ecotoxic effects. • Proposes prospects for mechanism, engineering & scaling.