I bought some basil plants from you about a month ago. One is looking great. The other one has been attacked by some pest that is eating the leaves. Any recommendations for how to treat it? Organic or non-toxic treatments are preferred, if possible.
Answer:
It sounds like you probably have a caterpillar eating on your plant. Are you seeing any black droppings on it? Best thing to do is to check it first thing - very early in the morning - that's when you usually can find the caterpillars eating on the plants. Pick it/them off and put it/them somewhere else away from plants you don't want them eating.
They can eat alot (and fast) as the more they eat, the bigger they get and than they eat even more. You want to find them before they eat up the whole plant. They are usually the same color as the plant. If you check around any droppings you see on the plant, you will usually find the caterpillar on the underside of the leaves above it. And where there is one, there is usually more.
If different symptoms, let me know.
Reply:
I am going caterpillar hunting in the morning.
Look what I found.
 |
| This is the Doxiehumilis Caterpillar- confuscus - a rare sighting of this caterpillar found at the Buda, Texas Weenie Dog Races this past April. You may encounter one at Halloween too but I doubt you would normally find one in your garden. If you do have the priviledge of finding one - be sure and give them a big hug and a good home. These are the good kind. |
