Bugs eating my basil

[Scott M]

My basil has been getting eaten up like never befor, went out last night with a flashlight and found little brownish beetles all over my basil plants [not japeneese beetles ] What can I spray to kill or keep them off and still be safe to eat the basil? Thanks

[hippioflov]

There's a post on here about making your own insecticidal soap with coffee. I've used it on broccoli and cabbage with no ill effects. If I remember right: brew a strong pot of coffee. In a blender mix 1/4 c. veggie oil and 2 tbs liquid soap with the coffee. Spray on the plants. My liquid soap comes from putting a bar of Ivory soap in a quart mason jar and filling with water. Let sit overnight and instant liquid soap.

[dragonfly7]

What you have could be the African Brown Beetle, they are known to love basil. White Geraniums (pelargonium alba) and nasturtiums can both act as trap plants, so the beetles eat the flowering plants instead of your basil. You could also deter them from eating by spraying a mix of Neem oil and castille soap solution, however, the beetles live in crevices in the soil so you'll need to saturate the ground around the plants as well. That should kill the eggs and it's non-toxic and the Neem oil is actually good for the plants.

[jonsoncont]

Go to your local garden store and pick up some anti beetle spray.. Stuff worked great for me, but I cannot remember exactly what brand I had used.