What eats the leaves of Basil plants?
by Mit11822952
+4
7 answers
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![Janet Pizaro]()
Janet Pizaro
on Jun 19, 2017
Could be anything.Slugs,beetles,aphids,mites>>>>>Spray them down on a regular basis with a horticultural oil. -
![KattywhampusLOL]()
KattywhampusLOL
on Jun 19, 2017
Here is a website that ells you what munches on Basil plants and what you can do to get rid of them ( "... The most frequent assaulters of your precious basil plant leaves are Japanese beetles, slugs and aphids. ...)https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/holes-in-basil-leaves.htm -
![Sharon Susa Courchesne]()
Sharon Susa Courchesne
on Jun 19, 2017
The most frequent assaulters of your precious basil plant leaves are Japanese beetles, slugs and aphids.Japanese BeetlesJapanese beetles are usually found for around a month during the summer. They ravage the tender leaf but do not eat the larger veins of the basil plant, leaving a lacy looking skeleton on your plant. Japanese beetles can be plucked from the basil plant with your fingers and squished or dropped into soapy water to dispose. You may also choose to cover plants with garden fabric to reduce the number of mature insects that feed on them, which can also include the grasshopper.Slugs or SnailsSlugs, ugh, slugs! Slugs find the basil plant leaves almost as delicious as you do. They create ragged holes in the basil plant leaves after climbing up the plant. While basil plants like mulch to help retain the moisture they enjoy, it is also a conduit for the slugs. To retard those munching slugs, try sprinkling diatomaceous earth over the mulch. The diatomaceous earth scrapes the slug’s skin and causes it to dehydrate and subsequently die.Products such as Bayer Advanced Dual Action Snail and Slug Killer Bait, Sluggo, Escar-Go, and Schultz Slug and Snail Bait must be reapplied after rain or watering. While not totally nontoxic, these products contain iron phosphate, which is significantly less harmful to pets, birds and beneficial insects than the more antiquated metaldehyde-containing products.Aphids and Soft Bodied InsectsSoft bodied insects such as aphids, spider mites and whiteflies can be eradicated with insecticidal soaps like Bonide Multi Purpose Insect Control Soap, Safer Rose and Flower Insect Killer Concentrate, Safer Insect Killing Soap Concentrate and Concern Insect Killing Soap Concentrate. Most of these pests will be on the underside of the basil leaf and must have direct contact with the soapy spray to effectively eradicate them.If you are interested in using a more environmentally friendly product, you may investigate Azadiractin, which is an extraction naturally produced by the Neem tree, and is also known to gardeners as neem oil. Products which contain Azadiractin include: Align, Azatin, Neemex and Omazin. These products provide the gardener with another option for controlling basil plant marauders.Finally, remove any basil plant leaves with holes in them to avoid contaminating the rest of your plant. Chances are good that those damaged basil plant leaves harbor some type of pest vying for your next batch of Pesto Genovese.- See more at: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/holes-in-basil-leaves.htm#sthash.MmyVQCSI.dpuf -
![Elizabeth Michels Pinizzotto]()
Elizabeth Michels Pinizzotto
on Jun 19, 2017
Basil has few pests, but occasionally generalist pests such as aphids, flea beetles, and Japanese beetles will feast upon it. Rinse off aphids with a garden hose. To prevent beetles from munching, cover the crop with fabric row cover. -
![Jewellmartin]()
Jewellmartin
on Jun 19, 2017
Italian rabbits. 😇 -
![Rachelle Gordon]()
Rachelle Gordon
on Jun 19, 2017
Aphids, and Beetles. Otherwise they usually are pretty resilient. -
![Mit11822952]()
Mit11822952
on Jun 19, 2017
Thank you for solving my problem.
Janet Pizaro
on Jun 19, 2017
KattywhampusLOL
on Jun 19, 2017
Sharon Susa Courchesne
on Jun 19, 2017
Elizabeth Michels Pinizzotto
on Jun 19, 2017
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