Why insects target cards
Collectible cards are mostly paper and thin coatings, but the materials around them can be just as attractive to pests. Some small insects feed on paper fibers; others are drawn to starches and other organic substances in paper, paste, or binding glue. Cards stored in albums, cardboard boxes, or paper sleeves may therefore offer both food and hiding places.
The damage can begin out of sight. An insect may shelter between stacked cards or in a box seam, then scrape or chew at exposed edges and surfaces. The result can be pinholes, ragged corners, or patches where the printed layer has been disturbed. A tiny mark may affect only one card, but repeated feeding can spread through a stack or album.
Storage can limit the risk
Pests are more likely to persist where they can hide undisturbed and where dampness helps create favorable conditions. Keeping cards dry, storing them in clean, tightly closed containers, and checking boxes and albums periodically makes it easier to spot trouble before it spreads. If damage appears, inspect nearby paper storage too: the insects may be living in the container or surrounding materials, not just in the cards.
That is why even a small hole matters to a collector. It can be evidence not only of damage to one card, but of a pest finding a sheltered route through an entire set.
