Monday, December 28, 2015

Can Mealworms Digest Plastic?

Earlier this fall the following headline caught our attention:

“Plastic-eating worms may offer solution to mounting waste, Stanford researchers discover.”

https://news.stanford.edu/pr/2015/pr-worms-digest-plastics-092915.html



In this article, scientists discover that the common mealworm, Tenebrio molitor can eat Styrofoam and process it into ordinary, non-plastic frass (bug feces). When most animals eat plastic, it usually remains in their bodies – like the items found in the whale stomach on exhibit at Pacific Science Center.


Sometimes the plastic interferes with digesting other things. Even when animals seemed to digest plastic, in fact, it was simply broken up into smaller pieces –still plastic – that are passed as waste. This does not cut down on the amount of plastic waste in the environment. Mealworms, however, are able to reduce the amount of plastic around by breaking apart the plastic in their guts and using it for food.

Scientists hope to replicate the digestive processes in a lab on a large scale to deal with the mountains of discarded packaging.


Scientists are also looking for an aquatic organism capable of breaking down plastic to prevent scenes such as this:


There are huge islands of plastic debris in the Pacific Ocean


The idea of a natural solution to cleaning up plastic trash is enticing.

After reading this article, Animal Caretaker Amanda Plemmons immediately thought of the mealworms we rear for feeding our carnivorous and omnivorous animals. Could we replicate the experiment and demonstrate this exciting development? Yes. We could. All we needed, really, were mealworms and Styrofoam.

For a few weeks we kept some of our mealworms in a small enclosure with foam packing material and moist cardboard as a water source. We noticed them surviving and thriving. We could tell they were flourishing because they were healthy enough to shed their skins and grow. The next step was to move a larger number into a larger enclosure with a variety of polystyrene shapes.

After a week “backstage” they were brought out on exhibit and we were pleased to see them visible on the surfaces of the foam. They still have moist cardboard and cellulose sponge as a moisture source and although we have seen them eating it, they are also eating the Styrofoam with gusto.

Best of all the foam is going in as plastic and coming out as frass! The mealworms aren’t just chewing and swallowing. They seem to be digesting and excreting. This story is much more complex than just a Grossology® connection, but we have rarely been more excited to watch insects poop!


Read more!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Fresh Sheet – December 26th, 2015

Today we celebrate the 17th anniversary of our Tropical Butterfly House. This most popular exhibit of Pacific Science Center is flourishing with butterflies and blossoming with flowers. Come by and enjoy!



Suministros Entimológicos Costarricenses, SA
CRES Costa Rica

04 - Archeoprepona demophon (One-spotted Prepona)
31 - Caligo memnon (Owl Butterfly)
27 - Catonephele numilia (Numilia)
10 - Eryphanis polyxena (Purple Mort Bleu Owl)
07 - Eueiudes isabella (Isabella’s Longwing)
25 - Greta oto (Glasswing)
23 - Hamadryas amphinome (Red Calico)
25 - Hamadryas februa (Gray Calico)
09 - Hamadryas laodamia (Starry Calico)
26 - Heliconius doris (Doris Longwing)
09 - Heliconius erato (Small Postman)
30 - Heliconius hecale (Tiger Longwing)
15 - Heliconius hewitsoni (Hewitson’s Longwing)
32 - Heliconius ismenius (Ismenius Longwing)
24 - Heliconius melpomene (Postman)
03 - Heliconius sapho (Sapho Longwing)
31 - Morpho peleides (Blue Morpho)
44 - Myscelia cyaniris (Blue Wave Butterfly)
06 - Opsiphanes tamarindi (Tamarind Owl)
10 - Papillio anchisiades (Ruby-spotted Swallowtail)

Total = 391

“Fresh Sheet” is our weekly shipment report of pupae on display in the emerging window. Visit Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House and meet our newest residents.


Read more!

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Festivus For The Rest of Us - 2015

Once again, kicking off our year-end celebrations is the naked mole rats' favorite holiday – Festivus!


Stop by the colony, gather round the Festivus Pole, and watch your favorite Heterocephalus glaber as they perform

Feats of Strength and

Airing of Grievances.

Perhaps there will be Festivus Miracle.

Pacific Science Center will be closed on Christmas Day but reopen December 26th when we will be celebrating the 17th anniversary of our Tropical Butterfly House.

Happy holidays, everyone!


Read more!

Sunday, December 20, 2015

The Forces Awakens

Everyone is excited about the recent Star Wars invasion. Now even the Insect Village animals are joining in the fun.

The Giant Brazilian cockroaches (Blaberus giganteus) have captured a Stormtrooper helmet …

… while Darth Vader has met his match with the Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa).


Stop by and check out all our animal exhibits and become a PacSci Jedi.

Read more!

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Fresh Sheet – December 19, 2015

The days are getting shorter and the butterflies in our Tropical Butterfly House are roosting earlier and earlier. Stop by and get a close look at these colorful animals as they begin to rest for the night.


Bioproductores de El Salvador

09 - Archeoprepona demophon (One-spotted Prepona)
25 - Battus belus (Belus Swallowtail)
10 - Caligo memnon (Owl Butterfly)
10 - Catonephele numilia (Numilia)
10 - Eurytides thymbraeus(White-crested Swallowtail)
10 - Heliconius hecale (Tiger Longwing)
15 - Heliconius ismenius (Ismenius Longwing)
15 - Lycorea cleobaea (Large Tiger)
15 - Morpho peleides (Blue Morpho)
10 - Morpho polyphemus (White Morpho)
10 - Myscelia ethusa (Royal Blue Butterfly)
25 - Papilio androgeus (Queen Page)
25 - Papilio erostratus (Dusky Swallowtail)
10 - Papilio torquatus (Band-gapped Swallowtail)
15 - Archeoprepona demophon (One-spotted Prepona)
10 - Prepona omphale (Blue Belly-Button)
15 - Tithorea harmonia (Harmonia Tigerwing)

Total = 239

Neotropical Insects NV
Suriname

09 - Battus polydamas (Polydamus Swallowtail)
40 - Heraclides thoas (Thoas Swallowtail)
30 - Heliconius melpomene (Postman)
05 - Heliconius hecale (Tiger Longwing)
40 - Anartia amathea (Scarlet Peacock)
05 - Archeoprepona demophoon (Hubner’s Prepona)
40 - Biblis hyperia (Red Rim)
40 - Caligo memnon (Owl Butterfly)
11 - Eryphanis polyxena (Purple Mort Bleu Owl)
10 - Mechanitis polymnia (Polymnia Tigerwing)
40 - Tithorea harmonia (Harmonia Tigerwing)

Total = 270

Grand Total = 509

“Fresh Sheet” is our weekly shipment report of pupae on display in the emerging window. Visit Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House and meet our newest residents.


Read more!

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Fresh Sheet – December 12, 2015

Another rainy week in the Northwest but still a dry, warm Tropical Butterfly House at Pacific Science Center. Get out of the traffic and holiday bustle. Visit us soon. We’re waiting for you!


Penang Butterfly Farm, Malaysia

26 - Athyma nefte (Colour Sergeant)
60 - Cethosia cyane (Leopard Lacewing)
09 - Euploea mulciber (Striped Blue Crow)
08 - Hypolimnas bolina (Blue moon)
35 - Idea leuconoe (Paper Kite)
10 - Lexias dirtea (Archduke)
15 - Papilio memnon (Great Memnon)
60 - Parthenos sylvia (The Clipper)
17 - Tirumala septentrionis (Dark Blue Tiger)
30 - Troides helena (Yellow Birdwing)
60 - Vindula dejone (The Cruiser)

Total = 330

“Fresh Sheet” is our weekly shipment report of pupae on display in the emerging window. Visit Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House and meet our newest residents.


Read more!

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Fresh Sheet – December 5, 2015

The first pupae shipment of the last month of the year has arrived and it’s from our friends in El Salvador. Drop by our Tropical Butterfly House and warm up while you view these Central American beauties.


Bioproductores de El Salvador

10 - Anaea eurypyle (Pointed Leafwing)
12 - Archeoprepona demophoon (Hubner’s Prepona)
25 - Battus belus (Belus Swallowtail)
08 - Catonephele numilia (Numilia)
15 - Heliconius hecale (Tiger Longwing)
25 - Heliconius ismenius (Ismenius Longwing)
25 - Lycorea cleobaea (Large Tiger)
12 - Morpho peleides (Blue Morpho)
25 - Morpho polyphemus (White Morpho)
25 - Myscelia ethusa (Royal Blue Butterfly)
20 - Papilio androgeus (Queen Page)
25 - Papilio erostratus (Dusky Swallowtail)
10 - Papilio garamas (Magnificent Swallowtail)
14 - Papilio torquatus (Band-gapped Swallowtail)
07 - Archeoprepona demophon (One-spotted Prepona)
10 - Prepona omphale (Blue Belly-Button)
25 - Tithorea harmonia (Harmonia Tigerwing)

Total = 293

“Fresh Sheet” is our weekly shipment report of pupae on display in the emerging window. Visit Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House and meet our newest residents.


Read more!