Author(s): Jenuinfri Expriana AN* and Hanifa Marisa
The use of plastic as food packaging dominates polystyrene plastic, namely Styrofoam, because of its light characteristics and the fact that it can be carried without realizing it, releasing large amounts of waste into the environment. Overcoming Styrofoam plastic can be made by using insects from the Coleoptera order, namely Tenebrio molitor L., better known to the common people as the Hongkong Caterpillar. This insect has been extensively explored as a plastic degradation agent. An important component in increasing the rate of styrofoam degradation by Tenebrio molitor L. by providing nutrients in the form of feed such as rice bran, yeast and soy protein. This study aims to determine which feed has the best effect based on styrofoam degradation, biodegradation rate, and survival rate on the performance of Tenebrio molitor L. in degrading styrofoam plastic. This research was conducted from 28 December 2022 to 26 February 2023 at the Biosystematics Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Sriwijaya University, Indralaya. The research is begun used by cultivating and caring stage of Tenebrio molitor L caterpillar. Beetle to obtain the Tenebrio molitor L caterpillar. The next stage is the preparation of EPS styrofoam material and feed in the form of rice bran, yeast and soy protein
used for research experiments. The results of this study showed that the combination of rice bran and yeast increased the performance of Tenebrio molitor L. in styrofoam plastic degradation based on the biodegradation rate and 100% survival rate. The conclusion of this study is that rice bran and yeast can improve the performance of Tenebrio molitor L. in degrading styrofoam plastic L.
