Not only basil planted outdoors, but also plants in the kitchen are often attacked by pests. We will explain to you what it means if you have discovered small black animals on your basil.
What are little black animals on basil?
If small black animals are found on basil, they are usuallythrips, which are also colloquially known as thunderstorm animals. Aphids also have a similar appearance and enjoy the aromatic basil.
What damage do thrips and aphids leave behind?
Thrips are sucking pests that literally suck the leaf tissue dry. This can first be recognized bysilvery-gray spotson the leaves. As the disease progresses, the leaves turn brown and die. The small animals themselves are often very difficult to detect with the naked eye.
If they are aphids, which are a little larger and more conspicuous, the leaves areperforated Discover However, if there are black balls underneath the basil, it is caterpillar droppings.
Can thrips also transmit viruses?
The fringed winged beetles aretransmitters of viruses If they are not fought in time, they can cause far greater damage to the basil and neighboring plants than the animals themselves do by eating them. Basil affected by viral diseases should under no circumstances be consumed. The plants must be disposed of so that the viruses do not continue to multiply on the living host plant.
What can you do about the pests?
To combat thrips and save the plant,home remedies are very suitable:
- Water: When the infestation begins, rinse the basil several times and shake it off thoroughly
- Soap: Use a solution of water and soft soap for rinsing or spray it onto the leaves using a spray bottle (even if there are aphids infested); Wash the leaves thoroughly before eating
- Blue panels: The pests are magically attracted to these sticky traps (€8.00 on Amazon)
Can I also combat the pests chemically?
Chemical pesticides arenot recommended. Since you still want to eat the culinary herb (only recommended for mild infestations with thrips, which are quickly discovered and combated!), only tried and tested home remedies should be used.
How can I prevent pest infestation?
To prevent pest infestation, it can help toenrich the air surrounding the basil with moisture While houseplants can be repeatedly sprayed with water, basil does not like this preventative measure. We recommend placing a bowl of water near or on the heater. In addition, it can be helpful to spread dry coffee grounds thinly over the soil to keep pests away. Most of them don't like the smell of coffee at all.
Tip
Do not confuse with the spider mite
Both pests love dry heating air in the apartment. However, while thrips only show damage to the leaves, spider mite infestations reveal the characteristic webs between the leaves.
