Why does my basil plant have white bugs?

Do you see some suspicious white specks appearing on the stem and leaves of your basil plant? There’s a good chance that these specks are garden pests that feed off the sap and leaves of the basil plant. The most common basil pests include aphids, whiteflies, and mites.

What are the little white things on my basil plant?

White spots on basil leaves can have two causes – a fungal disease or an insect infestation. Insects that feed on leaves include aphids, thrips, leafhoppers, spider mites, whiteflies, and mealybugs. Fungal diseases begin as small splotches that eventually cover the entire leaf surface.

How do I get rid of white bugs on my herbs?

To harvest healthy basil for your recipes, you need to kill any whiteflies that attempt to infest your plant.

  1. Vacuum the whitefly up into a small vacuum if you happen to spot it first thing in the morning when it is less active.
  2. Spray the whitefly with insecticidal soap.

What can I spray on my basil to keep bugs away?

Insecticidal Soap Insecticidal soaps are available in both ready-to-use spray bottles or as concentrate. If you use the former, shake the spray bottle and squirt the soap spray directly on the basil leaves, being sure to coat the lower leaves as well as the upper surfaces. If possible, squirt basil pests directly.

Can I eat basil with whitefly?

Whiteflies are harmful to basil and other plants because they suck the sap from the leaves. This weakens the plant, and a weak plant produces less of the prized leaves. Whiteflies and other leaf-sucking insects excrete a substance like sugar water called honeydew.

What kind of bugs are eating my basil?

If you’re wondering, here’s a list of insects that eat basil leaves and are the most likely culprits:

  • Slugs and snails.
  • Caterpillars.
  • Aphids.
  • Bush crickets (katydids)
  • Japanese beetles.
  • Leafhoppers.
  • Leaf miners.
  • Spider mites.

What to spray on herbs to keep bugs away?

Soap Spray—Your Number One Defense Spraying insecticidal soap on your herbs prevents them from being able to do that. For this particular soap spray mixture, you may also want to add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and a little neem oil to give it a punch to munching bugs.

Does Basil attract bugs?

Basil herbs are a delicious and healthy herb, and also happens to attract a bunch of bugs. If you wake up in the morning and notice that your basil plant was eaten but see no trace of the culprit, you may have to do some additional work to find out.

What insects does Basil repel?

– Marigolds. The scent of a marigold will deter plant lice, mosquitoes, and even rabbits. – Chrysanthemums. This might be the best plant to deter bugs. – Mint. Mint plants can repel spiders, ants, and mosquitoes. – Basil. Repel mosquitoes and houseflies with this wonderful herb. – Citronella grass. – Lavender. – Chives. – Petunias.

What do bugs eat basil leaves?

Dish soap. Dish soap is the hero for DIY pest control.

  • Attract bugs that eat aphids. If you have your basil outdoors,you can place it where native predators will come and feed on the aphids.
  • Make DIY rubbing alcohol spray. You can use rubbing alcohol (70%) and spray it directly onto the aphids.
  • Remove them by hand.
  • Use a greenhouse.

    • How to use Basil as an insect repellent?

    – Place a handful of fresh basil leaves into a glass measuring cup. Pour one-half cup of boiling water over the basil. – Squeeze the basil leaves to get out as much of the liquid as possible. – Add one-half cup witch hazel or vodka to the squirt bottle. – Apply this all-natural insect repellent by spraying it on your skin.