I can't figure out what's eating my basil!

I livein a second story apartment with a deck in a dense urban neighborhood, and I have a small herb garden outside. Among my herbs, basil is the only one that is getting eaten. I also have sage, mint, oregano, rosemary, lavender, and thyme, and they are all doing just fine.

The basil looks like it has big chomps taken out of it, and it gets worse every day. I first thought Japanese beetles, but the veins in the leaves are gone too, and I heard that Japanese beetles do not eat the leaves' veins. Same with slugs: I hear they make holes in the leaves, but my leaves are chomped. Aphids maybe, but again, it doesn't quite look like their work, plus I can't find any in the undersides of the leaves. Anyway, regarding all insects, I've noticed that it's the upper leaves that are getting eaten, not the lower ones. And, though I love my neighborhood, it's pretty paved over - not sure how the little buggies would have found me.

Do birds eat basil and leave behind other plants? I don't have squirrels in this area, and I don't think it could be rats -- I've never seen one back here, and would they leave the other plants?

Any ideas and strategies to combat then much appreciated!

Hey @plantopher my first guess would be birds too. Some of the leaves have a distinct triangular marking as if someone tried to chomp with a beak and wasn't successful getting all the way through the leaf.

It's been my experience that you canNOT predict what a bird will like or not like in plant selection. Sometimes they also go for plants that they'd normally leave undisturbed simply because they're thirsty! Try leaving out a shallow pan with water and see if that helps any.

Where are you by the way? North? South? East? West? It helps to identify problems if we have a better idea where you are.

And Welcome!!

@Plantopher, I seem to be having a similar problem as you are with my sweet basil and my purple basil.

@Darrieb, do you think my issue is also caused by birds?

Hi there @WKGarden

It's possible, although very hard to be sure at all. The speckling you showed in your fifth picture looks more like possible spider mite damage to me tho. Check the underside of the leaves to see if there are teeny, tiny bugs. If so, a simple squirt with some insecticidal soap will take care of them. Just rinse the leaves before you eat them and you'll be good to go.

For the slices in the leaves, I'd say try putting out more water for the birdies and see if they leave your plants alone.

Darrieb said:Hi there @WKGarden
The speckling you showed in your fifth picture looks more like possible spider mite damage to me tho. Check the underside of the leaves to see if there are teeny, tiny bugs.

Thanks, @Darrieb!

So I looked underneath the leaves but I didn't find much.

I did see a higher number of nats on the leaves. It's been raining in my area every day so that's not surprising.


The top of the affected leaf.


Here's a look at the backside of the affected leaf.


A younger leaf also with yellow spots.


My purple basil isn't safe. It too has the spots.






On the 6th photo, I see what might be a tiny egg on the midrib. What do you think? It's pouring outside at the moment so I can't check.

@ Patti1957 Can we move this to a new thread somehow?

The dimples on the underside of his basil leaves have me stymied. I don't remember that from any healthy basil leaves I've ever had. And something is eating his basil.

Any ideas?

@Patti1957 hello 😀