Bookworm – Literally
Bookworm – an insect that feed on material in books — the paper, the glue, the cloth binding.
The lists of insects in the bookworm category include some beetles, cockroaches, silverfish and booklice. In general, the types of beetles that end up damaging books do so because the books are stored close to a food source used by the beetles. For example, the larvae of dermestid beetles that normally feed on animal products such as wool or leather could end up chewing into a book that was in contact with a wool carpet or other material where beetle larvae were feeding. A beetle that feeds on wood will chew outside of the bookshelf and into a book.
Cockroaches and silverfish both will feed on the glue that is used to fabricate the covers of hardbound books. These insects just gnaw at whatever material is used in the cover to consume the glue holding it in place.
Booklice are technically known as psocids and are not lice at all. These tiny insects feed on fungi or mold that can sometimes be found in stored grain or other materials. So, in general, books stored in high humidity conditions such as in damp basements are more likely to harbor mold and be damaged by booklice. The best way to keep books from being damaged by bookworms of the insect type is to keep the books stored under low humidity conditions.
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