what is eating my basil at night

What is Eating My Basil at Night? How to Identify and Stop These Nocturnal Pests

As a basil lover finding holes chewed edges or missing leaves on your basil plants in the morning can be incredibly frustrating. You’ve cared for the plants all season long, only to have some nighttime critter sneak in and destroy them! But don’t worry – with some detective work and preventative measures, you can stop these nocturnal nibblers in their tracks.

The most likely culprits eating your basil at night are slugs snails earwigs, caterpillars, grasshoppers, rats or other rodents. Let’s look at how to identify which pest is feasting on your basil after dark so you can take action to protect your plants.

Top Nighttime Basil Nibblers

Here are the most common pests that may be munching on your basil under cover of darkness:

Slugs and Snails

These slimy mollusks love to slide onto basil plants at night to chew irregular holes in the leaves. Look for their shiny slime trails leading to or around the damaged plants as a clue to their presence.

Earwigs

These creepy looking insects hide out in dark, moist areas during the day, then emerge at night to feed on foliage with their pinchers. Piles of dirt near damaged plants may signal earwigs are hiding out nearby.

Caterpillars

Some moth and butterfly caterpillars only feed at night and can quickly defoliate basil plants. Look for curled up caterpillars on the undersides of leaves or on stems during the day.

Grasshoppers

While active both day and night, grasshoppers do a lot of their feeding at night. You’ll find tiny holes chewed in the basil leaves. Also look for the insects themselves resting on the plants in the morning.

Rats/Rodents

Hungry rats can also find juicy basil leaves hard to resist. You may see clean angled cuts on stems rather than torn holes. Also look for rodent droppings and tracks around plants.

How to Catch the Culprits in Action

To definitively determine what’s eating your basil at night, you need to head outside after dark and catch the pests in action. Here are some tips:

• Inspect plants using a flashlight or headlamp 1-2 hours after sunset when creatures are most active.

• Move slowly and methodically, scanning leaves, stems and soil for signs of movement.

• Stake out plants for 30 mins or more to spot nocturnal nibblers. Night vision binoculars can help.

• Use a motion-activated camera aimed at your basil plants to record activity. Review the footage in the morning.

• Create small enclosures around plants using hardware cloth and check for trapped pests in the morning.

Taking time to observe your basil garden after dusk will reveal which pests come out at night to snack on your plants. And knowing which one is eating your basil is key to stopping further damage.

Ways to Stop Nighttime Basil Feasting

Once you’ve identified the culprit eating your basil under cover of darkness, it’s time to take action. Here are some organic, non-toxic ways to protect plants:

For slugs and snails:

• Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around plants to shred their soft bodies.

• Set out shallow dishes of beer to attract and trap the mollusks overnight.

• Place abrasive eggshells around plants to hinder their movement.

For earwigs:

• Use tuna fish cans partially filled with oil to trap earwigs.

• Apply insecticidal soap spray to plants to kill earwigs on contact.

For caterpillars:

-Manually remove and relocate curled up caterpillars on plants.

-Use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) organic insecticide to target leaf-eating larvae.

For grasshoppers:

-Lay out sticky traps around plants to capture active grasshoppers at night.

-Use lightweight fabric row covers over plants to create a physical barrier.

-Spray plants with natural insect repellents like mint, garlic or hot pepper oil.

For rodents:

-Use a bait trap far away from the garden to relocate (not kill) rats and mice.

-Protect plants with hardware cloth cages or wire mesh fencing tubes around stems.

-Sprinkle chili powder or cayenne pepper on and around plants to deter rodents.

-Set up motion-activated sprinklers or lights to startle and scare nocturnal nibblers.

Ongoing Night Patrols

Be sure to do regular night checks of your basil garden 2-3 times per week during the growing season. Catching pests early before populations explode is crucial. Handpick any critters you find to reduce damage.

It’s also important to address daytime pests as well that could be weakening plants and making them more attractive for night feeders. Be on the lookout for:

• Aphids – Check undersides of leaves for these tiny sap-sucking insects and their honeydew secretions.

• Japanese Beetles – Look for skeletonized leaves with veins remaining. Handpick spotted beetles.

• Leafminers – Watch for winding trails or blotches on leaves indicating larvae inside. Remove damaged foliage promptly.

• Whiteflies – Shake plants to monitor for tiny white insects that fly up when disturbed. They leave sticky honeydew and black sooty mold.

Keeping basil plants vigilant and pest-free 24/7 is critical for a bountiful harvest all summer long. Don’t let those nighttime nibblers get the upper hand. With a bit of patience and persistence, you can enjoy gorgeous, unchewed basil leaves. Sweet dreams!