I have caterpillar (I think) eating up my sweet basil plant. Anyway to get rid of them (no insecticides)?

Question

I have caught one caterpillar-like insect before. It was small, green and was underneath a leaf. Do I have to keep catching them?

By the way, I'm going to try spraying with vinegar per the answers. Would that hurt the plant?

Answer 1

Hummm..am wondering if your plant is outdoor or inside. Have not had problem with caterpillars on my basil. However..one thing they do not like is salt and beer (seriously). The only other solution is to pick the pesky critters off your plants and kill them.

Answer 2

Bacillus thuregienis (Bt) is the non-toxic product of choice for all caterpillars, if that is what you have. Dipel is one brand name. Will kill butterfly as well as moth larva, so limit application to the basil.

Since there are chewing insects other than caterpillars that attack basil (see URL), make some effort to capture the pest and seek help from local Master Gardeners/Cooperative Extension in identifying it, before applying treatment.

Answer 3

Pick them off. Look for other pests. Pick those off as well. I'd grow sweet basil in a container up off of the ground so these bad guys can't get to it easily!

Answer 4

Home made sprays that contain hot or bitter items that would bother the catepillars

Water and Red Pepper
Vinegar

You get the idea

Answer 5

Vinegar. Most insects cannot stand vinegar.

Answer 6

Are you sure it's not a parsleyworm, the larval stage of the black swallowtail butterfly ??

I let them eat all the want

Answer 7

use a bit of dish washing soap with water and spray plant lightly.

Answer 8

a pair of scissors