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Yesterday this was a thriving basil cutting, indoors on my window sill. This morning it's destroyed and covered in these little black things; not round balls but with an indented shape. I've never seen these before. They could be droppings, or eggs? Does anyone know what could have left them?

Click twice to magnify:

…looks like caterpillar frass/poop to me. These would be from big one(s) near full instar.

I agree, looks like caterpillar poop. sounds like you’ve got a fugitive on the loose in the kitchen somewhere.

Caterpillar, eh. I've never seen one in the house before - tiny frog yes but not caterpillar. I wonder if it came in as an egg on a leaf (OMG would there be a cluster of them ?.) Also where would it have gone now. Other plants on the same sill have not been touched.

Yep, that's gotta be poop. Worms were eating on my basil to, the nasty things. But my basil is outside. The worms may be hiding in the soil.

the caterpillar is visible in the first picture, on the underside of the ‘branch’ on the right.

Whoo Hoo! Way to go !potatoes! I see it now too!

Wow, yes! Thanks Potatoes. I Can't believe I didn't see it before. Isn't the camouflage color perfect ! I'm afraid he met with a cruel fate; chucked into the (unlit) wood stove among the ashes, debris and whatever else is awaiting incineration.

Now wasn't that a very hearty meal - and a lot of poop - for one night's work ?

agreed! I would have guessed it would take a bit longer to make such a pile.