Learn how to spot and identify basil-eating pests in the garden and what to do about them.
This popular herb is commonly assumed to be immune from leaf-munching pests, but that isn’t entirely accurate.
Adult beetles feed on the upper leaves of many plants, including basil.
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They eat the softer leaf tissue between the veins, leaving behind a lace or skeleton-like munched leaf.
If Japanese beetles are eating your basil plants, try:
Avoidusing Japanese beetle traps.
Slugs
These garden pests are similar to snails without shells.Slugs are soft-bodiedand slimy, with no legs.
Slugs are nocturnal and do their damage at night when they’re hard for us to spot.
Look for dried slime trails in your gardenthey sometimes shine in the morning sunlight.
Other signs of slug attack include irregularly shaped holes in leaves and fruit.
To combat slugs:
3.
Aphids
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects.
They use needle-like mouthparts to pierce plants and feed on the sap.
Look for honeydew, a sticky, clear, and shiny substance they secrete when feeding.
Tofight off aphids:
4.
Most often, caterpillars are not a big threat.
As we learned in grade school, caterpillars are the immature stage of butterflies and moths.
As such, you may not want to harm them.
Feeding damage from caterpillars often looks like ragged holes in leaves or portions of leaves eaten.
During the day, look for caterpillars on the undersides of leaves and stems, where they often hide.
If you do need to remove caterpillars from your garden:
5.
Katydids
Katydids are often camouflaged and green in color and blend in well with foliage.
Their size varies from a half-inch long tograsshopper-sizedor a little larger.
They have chewing mouthparts.
Feeding damage from katydid adults and nymphs looks like holes chewed in the leaves.
To combat katydids in your basil:
6.
Rabbits
Rabbits seldom damage basil planted in the garden, butno plant is guaranteed rabbit-proof.
Prevent rabbit damage by:
7.
Deer
Deer also won’t typically bother basil or other strongly scented plants.
Hoof prints are a good sign deer have been there.
To keep deer at bay:
