Effect of the Presence of Beeswax on the Degradation of Extruded Polystyrene Foam by Galleria mellonella Larvae
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Zoology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
Polystyrene foam is a common plastic used for packaging and in food service, but it is greatly harmful in its abundance to the environment. The organism Galleria mellonella is a plativore and can consume and biodegrade these polymers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the presence of beeswax, the natural food source of Galleria mellonella, would affect the organisms consumption rate of extruded polystyrene foam. It was hypothesized that the presence of beeswax increased the degradation of polystyrene foam by Galleria mellonella larvae by keeping them healthy enough to be able to consume and properly degrade the polystyrene foam. In order to conduct this experiment, the styrofoam was weighed and one larva was placed into each wax or non wax group. They were left for 5 days for exposure and the styrofoam was weighed again to calculate the mass change. The results of a t-Test with an alpha value of 0.05 suggests that there was no significant difference between the wax and non wax groups. Thus, it was concluded that there is not sufficient evidence to suggest that the presence of wax has an effect of the consumption rate of polystyrene foam by Galleria mellonella.
Recommended Citation
Hetzel, Lily, "Effect of the Presence of Beeswax on the Degradation of Extruded Polystyrene Foam by Galleria mellonella Larvae" (2026). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 114.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2026/all/114
Location
Furman Hall 108
Start Date
3-28-2026 10:45 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
Effect of the Presence of Beeswax on the Degradation of Extruded Polystyrene Foam by Galleria mellonella Larvae
Furman Hall 108
Polystyrene foam is a common plastic used for packaging and in food service, but it is greatly harmful in its abundance to the environment. The organism Galleria mellonella is a plativore and can consume and biodegrade these polymers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the presence of beeswax, the natural food source of Galleria mellonella, would affect the organisms consumption rate of extruded polystyrene foam. It was hypothesized that the presence of beeswax increased the degradation of polystyrene foam by Galleria mellonella larvae by keeping them healthy enough to be able to consume and properly degrade the polystyrene foam. In order to conduct this experiment, the styrofoam was weighed and one larva was placed into each wax or non wax group. They were left for 5 days for exposure and the styrofoam was weighed again to calculate the mass change. The results of a t-Test with an alpha value of 0.05 suggests that there was no significant difference between the wax and non wax groups. Thus, it was concluded that there is not sufficient evidence to suggest that the presence of wax has an effect of the consumption rate of polystyrene foam by Galleria mellonella.
