The usage of "bugs" to refer to microbes in the press release was quite confusing, although note that the study does cite work that found some similar plastic-degrading microbes in the gut microbiota of some insects:
> Certain species, such as larvae of Plodia interpunctella (waxworms), Tenebrio molitor (mealworms), and Galleria mellonella, were even found to have developed a flora that can degrade polyethylene (82, 83), polystyrene (84, 85), or both plastic types simultaneously (86). However, these organisms might have a highly adapted and specialized microbiome due to their direct exposure and breeding in specific plastic-contaminated habitats (82, 84), [...].
> Certain species, such as larvae of Plodia interpunctella (waxworms), Tenebrio molitor (mealworms), and Galleria mellonella, were even found to have developed a flora that can degrade polyethylene (82, 83), polystyrene (84, 85), or both plastic types simultaneously (86). However, these organisms might have a highly adapted and specialized microbiome due to their direct exposure and breeding in specific plastic-contaminated habitats (82, 84), [...].