Author response for "A TROPHIC BRIDGE FOR BIOPLASTIC POLLUTION: TRANSSTADIAL RETENTION AND SYSTEMIC TOXICITY OF POLYLACTIC ACID MICROPLASTICS FROM NECROPHAGOUS FLIES (Chrysomya megacephala) TO SECONDARY CONSUMER BEETLES (Tribolium castaneum)"

A trophic bridge for bioplastic pollution: transstadial retention and systemic toxicity of polylactic acid microplastics from necrophagous flies ( Chrysomya megacephala ) to secondary consumer beetles ( Tribolium castaneum )

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Researchers investigated the trophic transfer of polylactic acid microplastics from necrophagous blowflies to predatory beetles in a simulated food chain. They found that PLA microplastics were retained across the fly's metamorphosis and successfully transferred to the beetle predators, causing multisystemic physiological effects. The study demonstrates that even bioplastics marketed as eco-friendly alternatives can persist through food webs and pose ecological risks to organisms at higher trophic levels.

From Soil to Cell: a Systematic Review of the Trophic Transfer and Bioaccumulation of Microplastics in the Terrestrial Food Web

From Soil to Cell: a Systematic Review of the Trophic Transfer and Bioaccumulation of Microplastics in the Terrestrial Food Web

A permeating threat of microplastics on insects and their ecological roles

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Researchers review how microplastic contamination disrupts insect physiology — reducing reproductive success, altering behavior, and compromising immunity — with cascading consequences for pollination, pest control, and nutrient cycling that could ripple broadly through agriculture and biodiversity.

Microplastics: Environmental Risks in Insect Ecosystem Leading to Adversity on Human Health

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Researchers examine how microplastic pollution affects insect ecosystems, tracing how plastic debris degrades into microscopic particles that are ingested by insects, disrupting their physiology and behavior, with downstream consequences for pollination, food webs, and ultimately human health given insects' foundational role in terrestrial ecosystems.