What did silverfish eat before paper was invented?

Plant biomass is used as raw material for making paper. Chemically it is cellulose, a kind of raw sugar. Leaves and fine tree trunk slices were in use for writing before paper making was invented. Therefore, there has never been a food shortage to silverfish. read more

Silverfish consume paper, glue, book bindings, sugar, coffee, hair, carpet, clothing, dandruff, cotton, linen, silk, synthetic fibres and dead insects. read more

Silverfish consume matter that contains polysaccharides, such as starches and dextrin in adhesives. These include book bindings, carpet, clothing, coffee, dandruff, glue, hair, some paints, paper, photos, plaster, and sugar. They will damage wallpaper in order to consume the paste. Silverfish can also cause damage to tapestries. read more