It's not just people who appreciate the aromatic taste of basil - animals also like the culinary herb and eat the delicate leaves. Here you can find out which pests nibble on basil and what you can do about it.
Who eats basil leaves?
If basil is eaten,snailsare usually responsible. But other pests such as thecommon earwig, aphids and flies also like to eat basil. After all, rodents and even cats can also eat basil.
Why does basil have holes in its leaves?
If basil growing outside has holes in the leaves and they may also be covered in speckles, this is becausepests have nibbled on the plants.
Which pests are responsible for nibbling?
The feeding marks can be traced back to different pests:
- Snails (in extreme cases they can nibble the plant down to the skeleton)
- Common earworm (a flying insect and omnivore; purchased basil plants are often infected with it)
- Aphids
- Leather flies (damage can be recognized by particularly small holes)
Rarely, gamma owls, which are day and night active butterflies, can also eat basil. The caterpillars of the gamma owl can cause great damage to basil, especially when plants are weakened and the soil is persistently dry.
What can you do about the pests?
Aresnailsthe culprits, in addition to prevention (see tip box), home remedies such as scatteredcoffee groundsor aplaced in the herb bedBeer trapcan be helpful.
If there is an insect infestation, diseased plant parts must be quickly removed and disposed of. A repeated dusting withcharcoal ashorprimitive rock flourafter rinsing and drying can often save at least strong plants. To avoid repeated infestation, adhesive boards can be placed around the basil.
Do rodents also eat basil?
Rodents such as mice and rats can also be theculprits when basil is eaten. They like the taste of the culinary herb; dried basil is often even included in the food for these animals. If mice or rats are the culprits, the eaten leaves must under no circumstances be dried or eaten fresh, as the rodents can transmit diseases. It just helps to set up traps to avoid feeding in the future.
Can other animals be responsible for the feeding marks?
Althoughcats don't particularly like green plants that smell very aromatic - their curiosity can lead to them eating basil. If you plant cat grass in the immediate vicinity, you can lure pets away from the different types of basil.
Tip
Prevent snails from eating in the first place
Of course, it's best not to let animals eat the basil plants. At least snails can be prevented from reaching the plants: Either you put up a so-called snail collar or snail fence after planting, or you cultivate the basil together with plants that scare away snails with their scent - for example lavender or busy lizards.
