Something is eating SIL's basil - help

[Dace]

My SIL has a nice little herb patch and something is eating the basil. The leaves have holes and when I picked some I found a little green worm as well as 2 little brown bugs on the underside of the leaves.

What can we put on them to get rid of the buggies?

 

[Wifezilla]

I would DE the ground and try a soap spray on the leaves.

 

[Dace]

OK, that is what I suggested but thought maybe someone had another idea

Thanks Wifey!

 

[Wifezilla]

The only other thing I could think of was neem oil, but I have never tried that myself. The DE really worked well on the flea beetles that went after my radishes.

 

[Dace]

Alrighty, we'll start with the first two.

 

[me&thegals]

Just be aware that DE kills anything soft-bellied, including the beneficials. Does she have 5 plants of basil, or an acre? Most personal vegetable gardens are small enough to easily pick bugs. You could try an online Google or a good bug book to identify the bugs before destroying...

 

[Dace]

She only has a couple of plants, but is not really into gardening.
I mixed up the spray for her and gave the plants a treatment. They are not very likely going to go in search of DE for two little plants, but you make a good point about being carful with it.