German Viasus Tibamoso, Environmental and Health Engineer: The beetles have the answer, but we haven't seen the full potential of the function they have.

CNN Narrator: Every week, 15 tons of waste are collected at this facility in Tunja, a city about 130 kilometers northeast of Bogota. Once it's piled up, the larvae, which can grow as long as a human hand, dig in. Other larvae are placed in tanks where they 8consume 9liquid organic waste that can be 10harmful to the environment. With the 11landfill 12close to capacity, the larvae provide an 13ingenious solution. The UN 14estimates that around 11.2 billion tons of trash are 15generated globally each year. Colombia produces around 32,000 tons of waste daily, about half of which is organic.

German Viasus Tibamoso: We should aim to 16preserve beetles because they are responsible for breaking down all the organic waste 17produced by 18humanity today.

CNN Narrator: The larvae start to become beetles after about four months when they develop hard shells. Rhinoceros beetles can 19live up tothree years. Some are 20exported to other countries while others stay in Colombia where they are seen as 21good luck charms.