An interesting case of polystyrene consumption by Reticulitermes lucifugus (Blattodea: Neoisoptera, Rhinotermitidae)

Autor:	Erminio Rolli
Jazyk:	English<br />Italian
Rok vydání:	2020
Předmět:	Reticulitermes lucifugus Neoisoptera Rhinotermitidae polystyrene consumption biological degradation plastic-eating insects Zoology QL1-991
Zdroj:	Fragmenta entomologica, Vol 52, Iss 2 (2020)
Druh dokumentu:	article
ISSN:	0429-288X 2284-4880
DOI:	10.4081/fe.2020.463
Popis:	A colony of Reticulitermes lucifugus from Apulia (SE Italian Peninsula) was recently observed to have partially consumed some polystyrene panels applied on a wall, and used like seat for termite nest. Further observations could allow to better understand if this colony is just able to physically consume and chew this plastic material, releasing it chemically intact after the passage throughout the termites’ digestive system, or if their microbiome could allow the insects to at least partially metabolize and degrade the ingested polystyrene fragments, as recently observed in a few other insects.
Databáze:	Directory of Open Access Journals
Externí odkaz:	https://doaj.org/article/ab6ca5febf1943b48b3a12b9357b69ec Zobrazit plný text záznamu View record in DOAJ Plný text ve formátu PDF