Something Eating Potted Basil - Ask Extension
Hi, something is eating my potted basil plant. I snapped this pic of a bug can you ID this for me and give me some tips on control? Its a jumping bug....
Knowledgebase
Something Eating Potted Basil #874880
Asked June 26, 2024, 9:06 PM EDT
Hi, something is eating my potted basil plant. I snapped this pic of a bug can you ID this for me and give me some tips on control? Its a jumping bug. Thank you!
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
The insect pictured is a juvenile leafhopper, in particular probably the Broad-Headed Sharpshooter, which can be very colorful as an adult. Leafhoppers can only suck plant sap, not chew, so the leaf chewing damage on the plant is due to another culprit. We suspect slugs or snails, but other possibilities include earwigs, caterpillars, and a variety of beetles. The damage pictured is not significant and doesn't require treatment, but you can check the plant after dark to see if you can identify the organism responsible, since some only feed at night and hide during the day. Once identified, if damage becomes more extensive, we can then recommend a particular treatment since not every spray type will be effective for every pest type.
Miri
Miri