Hi everyone! I am a newbie gardener from Arizona and would appreciate any help with identifying what is eating my basil leaves and how I can help my plant out.
I found and relocated a green caterpillar but the damage continues each day. I am afraid I will soon have nothing left! I also have seen the below pictured bugs on the underside of a few leaves. Two bugs always together as pictured (mating?!). I hand remove these when seen. I have tried spraying a natural garden soap formula on top and underside of leaves but it has not seemed to help. Thank you in advance for sharing any knowledge with me.
Appreciatively,
Becky
Basil Bugs Be Gone!
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- Leaf damage
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- Leaf damage
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- Bugs with thumb shown for size
Maybe they are slugs. Slugs are common pests for basil, unfortunately. I am "fighting" them right now 
What you can do to check if they are slugs indeed is to go out when it's dark at night (maybe 11?) and check with a flashlight on and under the leaves. Slugs like coming out at night time.
You can also take some beer and pour it into a small jar and dig the jar into the soil near the basil. Over night, you should find a couple slugs floating in the water.
Although a can of beer seams so priceless (
) it is worth it when it comes to slugs and basil.
Give it a try and tell us how it goes!
What you can do to check if they are slugs indeed is to go out when it's dark at night (maybe 11?) and check with a flashlight on and under the leaves. Slugs like coming out at night time.
You can also take some beer and pour it into a small jar and dig the jar into the soil near the basil. Over night, you should find a couple slugs floating in the water.
Although a can of beer seams so priceless (
) it is worth it when it comes to slugs and basil. Give it a try and tell us how it goes!
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Lindsaylew82
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 2115
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2014 9:26 pm
- Location: Upstate, SC
I think slugs, too. If you give the plants a really nice sprinkle and wait a few minutes, or if you go out I. The early morning dew, you can find them. Don't have to wait up all night. Slugs work REALLY fast to destroy.
No wasting good beer!!! It attracts slugs as well, so you end up attracting even more to the party! Do then you have to keep feeding their incessant alcoholism!
You could plant a few marigolds. They'll go for the marigolds over the basil, and they're self renewing. And they're easy to pick off!
No wasting good beer!!! It attracts slugs as well, so you end up attracting even more to the party! Do then you have to keep feeding their incessant alcoholism!
You could plant a few marigolds. They'll go for the marigolds over the basil, and they're self renewing. And they're easy to pick off!
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Lindsaylew82
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 2115
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2014 9:26 pm
- Location: Upstate, SC