What's the deal with mealworms?
Why on earth am I working with mealworms? This is a common question I get when discussing my work, so as I wait for the Arts Council grant to arrive, I'd like to explain why I find them so fascinating.
Mealworms are unassuming creatures, even ugly to look at. However hidden within these creatures is something truly fascinating... 'exiguobacterium'.
Tenebrio molitor larva... or the mealworm
Exiguobacterium is a tiny bacterium that helps mealworms break down plastic safely, turning it into energy and CO2. It is so effective that no trace of plastic is left in the larvae. Larvae can then be used as feed for animals, effectively eradicating plastic and turning it into a protein source.
Scientists are exploring how we can use exiguobacterium to tackle our plastic waste problem. This is clearly important work but as a designer, I can’t help but feel this only further perpetuates our anthropocenic, extractive behaviours. As we shift towards a symbiocene, I believe it is worth questioning whether there are more collaborative ways of working with mealworms.
Design sketches for potential collaborative experiments
My design process allows the mealworms to play as equal partners. I guide their moves with thin trails of sugar, but ultimately they are free to navigate through the plastic how they want.
Instead of forcing my ideas onto the material, I find inspiration from the mealworms themselves - learning by giving up control and letting nature take the lead. This approach challenges usual design norms and shows the power of teaming up with things beyond human boundaries. It reminds us that nature is more than just a resource to be used – it's a partner with its own wisdom and abilities.
Injecting sugar trials to guide the mealworms
As I aim to define the term “biocrafting”, this project with mealworms is a reminder that letting go of control can lead to fresh, innovative solutions. Through this process, my hope is to uncover a framework that could be used in other novel biocrafting projects. A space for experimenting where human smarts and nature's genius come together to achieve things that neither could do alone.
Wax casts of mealworm tunnels that became the basis for the furniture design
In the coming weeks you’ll see some more concrete progress on the project as we set up the mealworm shed.
See you next week!
Will