Abstract
Recent studies reported biodegradation of polyethylene waste in the gut of beeswax eating insect larvae of Galleria mellonella and Achroia grisella. In this study we examined the lifecycle stages and duration of each stage of three common beeswax eating honey bee pests (Galleria mellonella, Achroia grisella and, Uloma sp.) of Apis cerana indica colonies in laboratory condition. The insect larvae of the three species were provided with beeswax, polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) diet. The weight loss of beeswax, PE and PS feed as a function of time caused by the three insect larvae consumption was measured. Also the effect of beeswax, PE and PS feed on the growth and survivability of the three insect larvae were studied. Beeswax feeding insects G. mellonella, A. grisella, and Uloma sp. completed their lifecycle and the average lifecycle duration was 62 ± 2.1, 49 ± 3.6, 202 ± 3.2 days respectively. The G. mellonella A. grisella, and Uloma sp. larvae eat and digest beeswax, PE and PS. The insect larvae were found to survive on the plastic diets (PE and PS) but a decreased body mass was observed compared to beeswax eating conspecifics. These insect larvae that eat and digest beeswax and plastics could help to eliminate global pollution from recalcitrant plastic wastes.