Figures (4)  Tables (1)
    • Figure 1.  Means and standard error for insects and plastic polymers with multiple results reported. Individual values are shown by insect abbreviations. Values above 8 mg/gram live weight day show measured values. AG = Wax moth larvae (Achroia grisella), CC = Rice moth larvae (Corcyra cephalonica), GB = Cricket adults (Gryllus bimaculatus), GM = Wax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella), PD = Darkling beetle larvae (Plesiophthalmus davidis), TM = Yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor), TO = Dark mealworm larve (Tenebrio obscures), ZA = Superworm larvae (Zophobas atratus).

    • Figure 2.  a, b. Gryllus bimaculatus feeding on polyurethane foam. The holes, valleys and hollows formed in the PUF blocks showed that the cricket used PUF as their diet.

    • Figure 3.  Cricket performance through time with PUF or grains as feed. (a) Percentage fecula weight of crickets. (b) Mean weight of crickets. (c) Percentage mortality for both treated and untreated crickets.

    • Figure 4.  Aspergillus flavus G10 (HMAS 101889). (a) Alimentary canal of the dissected cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus). (b) Culture on MEA (20 days). (c) Hyphae. (d) Conidiogenesis (light microscope). (e–h) Conidiogenesis and conidia (SEM). Scale bars e = 50 µm, f = 20 µm, g = 10 µm, h = 3 µm.

    • Ref. #Polymer typeInsect typeIndividual live
      weight (mg)
      Insect total live
      weight (mg)
      Test duration
      (d)
      Consumpt. (mg) /
      live weight (g) / day
      [20]PS foamLand snails Achatina fulica26 08026 080280.024
      [10]PEYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)858 500380.06
      [10]PEYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)858 500380.27
      This studyPU foamGryllus bimaculatus cricket adults65032 500180.28
      [21]tire crumbYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)70*17 500210.57
      [22]PS plateYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)303 000210.63
      [23]PE foamYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)757 500400.64
      [10]PEWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*1 00040.85
      [24]PS (PE PS mix)Yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)808 000320.88
      [21]v-SBRYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)70*17 500211.00
      [25]PS foamSuperworm larvae (Zophobas atratus)From text --->1.04
      [23]PE foamYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)7522 500601.09
      [26]PS foamYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)70*35 000301.14
      [27]PS foam + BWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*12 000211.19
      [22]PS powderYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)303 000211.27
      [23]PS foamYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)7522 500601.33
      [25]PS foamYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From text --->1.40
      [28]PSYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->321.55
      [29]PS foamSuperworm larvae (Zophobas atratus)40096 000281.45
      [30]PE microYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)70*33 250281.72
      [25]PS foam + BSuperworm larvae (Zophobas atratus)From text --->1.79
      [28]PSYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->321.83
      [27]PE + BWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*12 450211.87
      [24]PS foamYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)808 000321.88
      [28]PSYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)797 900321.90
      [28]PSYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->321.96
      [24]PE (PE PS mix)Yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)808 000322.00
      [22]PS sheetYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)303 000212.00
      [25]PS foam + sugarYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From text --->2.03
      [28]PSYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)797 900322.03
      [31]PLA platesYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)721 440212.08
      [31]PVC piecesYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)641 280212.12
      [25]PS foam + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From text --->2.14
      [28]PSYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)797 900322.15
      [28]PSYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)797 900322.15
      [28]PS + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->322.16
      [30]PE microYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)70*33 600282.23
      [27]PS foam + waxWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*13 200212.27
      [32]PS foam + cofeedSuperworm larvae (Zophobas atratus)12912 900872.35
      [22]PS foamYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)303 000212.38
      [28]PSYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->322.44
      [28]PS + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->322.56
      [30]PS microYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)70*33 600282.60
      [30]PVC microYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)70*33 250282.79
      [28]PSYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->322.8
      [24]PEYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)808 000322.88
      [33]PS foamSuperworm larvae (Zophobas atratus)46918 760202.90
      [28]PSYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)797 900323.04
      [28]PS + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->243.04
      [25]PS foam + sugarSuperworm larvae (Zophobas atratus)From text --->3.19
      [30]PE microYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)70*29 050283.20
      [24]PS + half BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)808 000323.38
      [31]PS platesYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)701 400213.64
      [34]PS foamYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)638 000313.86
      [30]PS microYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)70*33 600283.86
      [28]PS + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->243.92
      [24]PE + half BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)808 000324.00
      [28]PS + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->244.12
      [28]PS + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->324.15
      [30]PVC microYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)70*33 425284.27
      [28]PS + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->324.28
      [30]PVC microYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)70*28 350284.28
      [32]PESuperworm larvae (Zophobas atratus)13713 700334.28
      [32]PE + cofeedSuperworm larvae (Zophobas atratus)12912 900874.43
      [32]PS foamSuperworm larvae (Zophobas atratus)13713 700334.49
      [33]PS foamYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)462 300204.80
      [27]PE + waxWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*12 450214.82
      [28]PS + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->244.85
      [28]PS + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->244.90
      [30]PS microYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)70*29 400284.92
      [34]PS foamDark mealworm larve (Tenebrio obscurus)638 000315.14
      [32]PE + cofeedSuperworm larvae (Zophobas atratus)13713 700335.25
      [28]PS + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->325.31
      [10]PEWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*1 0003.715.37
      [32]PS foam + cofeedSuperworm larvae (Zophobas atratus)13713 700335.61
      [10]PEWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*1 00095.67
      [28]PSYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->355.92
      [27]PS foamWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*6 600216.35
      [28]PS + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->247.17
      [28]PS + BYellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor)From table --->357.64
      [27]PEWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*10 800218.60
      [10]PEWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*1 0000.719.18
      [35]PS foamDarkling beetle larvae (Plesiophthalmus davidis)130**1418.8
      [36]PEWax moth larvae (Achroia grisella)525 200827.0
      [36]PE + WCWax moth larvae (Achroia grisella)565 600839.1
      [37]PERice moth larvae (Corcyra cephalonica)12**3002041.7
      [36]WCWax moth larvae (Achroia grisella)565 600850.2
      [38]PEWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)323 2000.557.5
      [39]PEWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*1 500781.4
      [39]PE UV trtWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*15 0007240
      [39]WCWax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)100*1 5007394

      Table 1.  Rates of plastic polymer degradation from published sources and from this study. PS = polystyrene, PE = polyethylene, PVC = poly vinyl chloride, PU = Polyester polyurethane, tire crumb = vulcanized natural latex rubber, v-SBR = vulcanized butadiene-styrene elastomer, WC = honey bee wax comb, micro = microparticulate. Food additives and mixtures are indicated; B = bran. * weight from other studies. ** weight is our estimate. One study included ultraviolet light-pre-treated polymer, and its result is highlighted in red. Where rates in these units were reported in original, they are listed directly here. Reference numbering is contiguous with text.