Pest identification
What's eating my lettuce leaf basil?
Aphids
Signs: Clusters at shoot tips and inside leaf folds; distorted, curled leaves; honeydew and sooty mold on broad leaves
Control: Pinch affected tips; spray with insecticidal soap; encourage hoverflies and ladybugs; rinse foliage with water
Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica)
Signs: Adults eat through the large leaf tissue leaving a skeleton of veins; large-leafed varieties show damage especially clearly (US)
Control: Hand-pick adults into soapy water; cover with row cloth during peak flight; do not use pheromone traps near herb beds
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes throughout broad, crinkled leaves; total seedling loss possible after heavy rain
Control: Use iron phosphate pellets; grow in raised beds with copper tape; hand-pick at night; avoid over-watering
Thrips
Signs: Silver-white flecking or scarring on the large leaf surface; distorted young leaves; black frass specks
Control: Spray neem oil or spinosad; use blue sticky traps to monitor; remove affected leaves promptly
Keep lettuce leaf basil pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Lettuce Leaf Basil pests — FAQ
What is eating my lettuce leaf basil?
Lettuce Leaf Basil ('Napoletano') has large, crinkled leaves that make excellent shelter for pests. Aphids colonise growing tips, slugs shred the broad leaves, and Japanese beetles skeletonise foliage in US gardens. The large leaf surface also catches thrips easily. Regular inspection and prompt removal of infested growth prevents serious damage.
How do I get rid of aphids on lettuce leaf basil?
Clusters at shoot tips and inside leaf folds; distorted, curled leaves; honeydew and sooty mold on broad leaves Pinch affected tips; spray with insecticidal soap; encourage hoverflies and ladybugs; rinse foliage with water
How do I get rid of japanese beetle (popillia japonica) on lettuce leaf basil?
Adults eat through the large leaf tissue leaving a skeleton of veins; large-leafed varieties show damage especially clearly (US) Hand-pick adults into soapy water; cover with row cloth during peak flight; do not use pheromone traps near herb beds
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on lettuce leaf basil?
Ragged holes throughout broad, crinkled leaves; total seedling loss possible after heavy rain Use iron phosphate pellets; grow in raised beds with copper tape; hand-pick at night; avoid over-watering
How do I get rid of thrips on lettuce leaf basil?
Silver-white flecking or scarring on the large leaf surface; distorted young leaves; black frass specks Spray neem oil or spinosad; use blue sticky traps to monitor; remove affected leaves promptly