Mealworms Compost Styrofoam

A

Acro

Cerambycidae
Check out the 2 links about mealworms composting styrofoam!

Scientific study from Stanford University:

https://news.stanford.edu/pr/2015/pr-worms-digest-plastics-092915.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/su-msc121819.php

I've been raising mealworms on styrofoam for about 2 months now.  I've raised mealworms to adult beetles on styrofoam alone, just adding some water now and then. The beetles may be feeding on styrofoam as well, however I supplement the mealbeetles with beetle jelly sometimes. 

Are you composting styrofoam with mealworms too?  Post up!

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I read an article, and the paper too when it popped up several years ago! It was quite an interesting finds!!

 
BensBeasts1 said:
I used to compost styrofoam but I realized it was negatively affecting my colony somehow.
Click to expand...
Will you tell more about your experiences?  What happened with the colony?

Almost all of the mealworms (I started out with) are becoming beetles.  Hopefully they are laying eggs. I have to start looking for tiny larvae, some may be in the styrofoam.

 
*UPDATE*

I'm on my 2nd generation of mealworms, that have been raised on mostly pure styrofoam, I say "mostly" because I would give small portions of other food every month or so, mainly for the meal beetles that started emerging. I did find that meal beetles will eat some styrofoam, but they don't survive well on it alone and I don't believe that they break it down or compost it, like the mealworms do.

This next time around, I will remove pupa and meal beetles into another container. I plan to feed the meal beetles normal fare (fish food, fruits, and I will attempt at seeing if they will compost leftovers from foods that I eat) while feeding the mealworms only on styrofoam.

I added about 100 more mealworms to the group (yesterday) to try and get 2 generations going at the same time.

Last of all, these links were sent to me, and I will now share them with you. They are about SuperWorms composting styrofoam!
https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/beetle-larvae-can-survive-on-polystyrene-alone-67251
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969719352258

If you are using mealworms or superworms to compost styrofoam, post up your experience!

 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top