CLOSED: What is this bug and is it eating my sweet basil?

bolino Toledo, OH(Zone 6a) Jun 02, 2007

I "caught" this guy on a sweet basil leaf. Something has been eating the leaves of this herb and I want to stop it! Could it be this guy?

Post #3566847

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jun 03, 2007

It's either a firefly or one of the related look-alikes. Not sure if they'd eat Basil or not.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/85

http://bugguide.net/node/view/17733

http://bugguide.net/node/view/4867

Post #3567493

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bolino Toledo, OH(Zone 6a) Jun 03, 2007

Yes, you are right! I believe fireflys do not eat sweet basil as they are not Italian!

I can't get a photo of this other bug that I've seen. It looks like a small but not tiny housefly with an irridescent body. Could that be the basil monster?

Post #3567539

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Illoquin Indianapolis, IN(Zone 5b) Jun 05, 2007

I saw one on my basil today, too. BUT I don't have any holes in my basil, so my gut feeling is yours is not eating your basil. Probably not your irridescent housefly, either. How about nocturnal slugs? Do you think they could be the culprit?

http://www.herbsociety.org/basil/bpests.php

Suzy