Help with my Italian Basil!

[MattLevan]

Hello, I recently purchased an Italian Basil seedling from my local farmer's market and planted it in my backyard. Within a week or so, I noticed that my basil was being eaten by some sort of pest. I first assumed that the pest was the slug, so I put a rope-barrier around the plant and sprayed the basil with a detergent/water mixture.

The feast persisted, however!

Next, I constructed a chicken-wire barrier around the whole plant, thinking that maybe a mouse, rat or rabbit was eating my plant.

But something kept munching away!

I would love some advice as to what may be eating my basil, and how I can prevent this pest from eating my plant in an eco-friendly manner.

I live in zone 10 in Southern California, by the way!

Here are some pictures:

[img]https://img294.imageshack.us/img294/584/img0963he3.jpg[/img]

[img]https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4259/img0964fv7.jpg[/img]

[img]https://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4296/img0965ji2.jpg[/img]

[img]https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8436/img0966el7.jpg[/img]

[img]https://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9335/img0967lq1.jpg[/img]

Thanks in advance!

[pixelphoto]

lots of bugs could still get thru the mesh on that wire
grasshoppers, moths, worms, and much much more.
I'm guessing you've been looking for insects on the plant (make sure to look under the leaves too) try checking at night with a flashlight to see if its a nocturnal pest eating your plants.
Thats unusual as most herbs don't have many pest.
I wish you luck.

[Jess]

I think Pixel has hit the nail on the head. That looks like slug or snail damage to me and your holes just ain't small enough to stop them plus those little grey slugs that do most of the damage to plants(not the big fat ones that everyone thinks do) live just below the soil level.