Transcriptomic analyses of labial glands and gut tissue from two wax moths, Achroia grisella and Galleria mellonella.

Plastics are highly stable materials with widespread applications, but their resistance to degradation poses a significant environmental challenge, often resulting in accumulation in landfills or pollution in the form of microplastics. Biodegradation using insect larvae has recently emerged as a promising strategy to address this issue, though the molecular basis of plastic degradation in these organisms remains poorly understood due to limited genomic resources. In this study, we present a complete genome of the lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella, and tissue-specific RNA-Seq data of both the lesser and the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, 2 species known to consume various plastics. Our analyses reveal several highly expressed secretory enzymes in the gut and labial tissues. Orthologous comparisons of differentially expressed genes also identified 5 enzymes (3 hexamerins and 2 monooxygenases) from the lesser wax moth that have been shown or are predicted to have plastic-degrading potential in the greater wax moth. We also identified candidate proteins showing sequence similarity to bacterial enzymes involved in polyethylene and polystyrene degradation, suggesting potential pathways for further functional investigation. Together, these genomic and transcriptomic resources provide a foundation for understanding plastic degradation in wax moths and highlight candidate genes for future functional validation.