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Comment on “Expanded polystyrene is not chemically degraded by mealworms” by Z. M. Tahroudi, G. Flematti, J. Joshi, G. Fritz and R. Atkin, RSC Sustainability , 2025, 3 , 383
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This commentary challenges a study claiming mealworms do not chemically degrade expanded polystyrene, arguing that valid biodegradation conclusions require mass balance analysis and comprehensive analytical methods including gut microbiome, transcriptome, and metabolome characterization rather than limited chemical testing alone.
Biodegradation of polystyrene products should be characterized on basis of mass balance and by comprehensive analytical methods associated with gut microbiome, transcriptome and metabolome.
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Reply to the ‘Comment on “Expanded polystyrene is not chemically degraded by mealworms”’ by W.-M. Wu and C. S. Criddle, RSC Sustainability , 2026, 4 , DOI: 10.1039/D5SU00247H
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Researchers rebutted claims that mealworms biodegrade expanded polystyrene, demonstrating that insects fed pure or commercial EPS die faster than starvation controls, shed only frass and microplastics, and leave the polymer's chemical structure chemically unchanged and unassimilated.
Gut Microbiome and Degradation Product Formation during Biodegradation of Expanded Polystyrene by Mealworm Larvae under Different Feeding Strategies
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Researchers found that mealworm larvae successfully degrade polystyrene under different feeding strategies, with gut microbiome composition and degradation byproduct profiles varying by diet, demonstrating that diet manipulation can optimize the biological plastic-degradation capacity of the mealworm system.
Optimizing polystyrene degradation, microbial community and metabolite analysis of intestinal flora of yellow mealworms, Tenebrio molitor.
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Yellow mealworm larvae fed only expanded polystyrene were found to biodegrade the plastic, with the efficiency depending on temperature and humidity conditions. The gut microbiome of the larvae played a key role, and researchers identified metabolic pathways involved in polystyrene breakdown, advancing understanding of insect-based plastic biodegradation.
Changes in Intestinal Microbiota Due to the Expanded Polystyrene Diet of Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor)
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Researchers found that mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) fed expanded polystyrene (EPS) showed significant changes in intestinal microbiota composition compared to controls, suggesting gut microbiome shifts accompany the biological degradation of polystyrene microplastics.
Complete digestion/biodegradation of polystyrene microplastics by greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae: Direct in vivo evidence, gut microbiota independence, and potential metabolic pathways
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Researchers provided direct in vivo evidence that greater wax moth larvae can completely digest polystyrene microplastics, demonstrating that biodegradation occurs independently of gut microbiota and identifying potential metabolic pathways involved in the breakdown process.
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