In Colombia, hungry beetle larvae combat trash buildup

[Judi Lynn]

AUGUST 13, 2024

by David SALAZAR

In the far-flung Colombian highlands, beetles are the secret weapon in an innovative project to combat the ever-growing problem of trash buildup.

Here, larvae of the enormous rhinoceros beetle eat through piles of organic garbage that would otherwise end up in polluting landfills.

But that's not all. The larvae poop is gathered and sold as fertilizer, and when the beetles reach adulthood, they are sold as pets to clients as far afield as Japan.

"The beetles have the answer" to rubbish disposal, said environmental and health engineer German Viasus, who runs the project in Colombia's central Boyaca region.

More:
https://phys.org/news/2024-08-colombia-hungry-beetle-larvae-combat.html