BIOPREDATION - INSECTS (BOOKWORMS)

Larvae of any insect which harms books by feeding on binding or leaves. As they eat their way through the pages of a book, they leave a trail known as “worming.” At times the worms will eat through an area of the pages; at other times holes are the diameter of one worm. In each case it is common to see the damage on many consecutive pages.

For additional information consider: Hickin, Norman. BOOKWORMS: The Insect Pests of Books. London: Sheppard Press, 1985. The author illustrates and discusses insects and damage they cause. He also describes environmental conditions that make damage more likely, and ways to improve the environment to lessen damage.