Plastic production has been increasing exponentially in the last 60 years, but plastic disposal is out of control, resulting in the pollution of all ecosystems on Earth. Finding alternative environmentally sustainable choices, such as biodegradation by insects and their associated gut microbiota, is crucial, however we have only begun to characterize these ecosystems. Some bacteria and one fungus have been previously identified in the gut of Greater Wax Moth larvae (Galleria mellonella L., Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) located mainly in the Northern hemisphere. The aim of this study was to describe changes in the gut microbiota associated with the consumption of polyethylene and polystyrene by the Greater Wax Moth in Argentina, considering both bacteria and fungi. Larvae were fed polyethylene, polystyrene and beeswax as control for 7 days. Next generation sequencing revealed changes in the bacterial gut microbiome of the wax moth larvae at the phyla and genus levels, with an increase in two Pseudomonas strains. The fungal communities showed no differences in composition between diets, only changing in relative abundance. This is the first report of both bacterial and fungal communities associated with a plastivore insect. The results are promising and call for more studies concerning a potential multi-kingdom synergy in the plastic biodegradation process.

Male honey bees fly and gather at Drone Congregation Areas (DCAs), where drones and queens mate in flight. DCAs occur in places with presumably chara

In this note, we report the lesser wax moth Achroia grisella F. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) (LWM), a beehive pest, for the first time in Argentina. In addition, we report observations of the larvae of this pest species consuming “silo-bags,” a material commonly used in the country for hive management. Silo-bags are composed of three layers of polyethylene and one anti-UV layer and no records of insects consuming this material are found in the literature. Our report represents a warning for apiculture in Argentina, especially when honey production has been observed to decrease recently. This decrease may be a result of a combination of factors, which may include the poor monitoring of hive health, and inappropriate management of pests such as A. grisella. In addition, our observations on silo-bag consumption represent a call for attention to beekeepers that use this material to conserve heat in the hives and open questions about the mechanisms involved in silo-bag consumption by the larvae.