Scientists from the University of Queensland have discovered that the larvae of the beetle Zophobas morio, known as superworms, can digest Styrofoam (polystyrene). These larvae carry unique gut bacteria capable of breaking down polystyrene, a type of plastic that is difficult to recycle and commonly used in packaging materials. The superworms shred the plastic and feed it to their gut bacteria, which break it down into smaller, absorbable pieces. While it’s not practical to rely solely on superworms for recycling, the enzymes they use could potentially be produced on a large scale to aid in recycling efforts.