http://www.ehow.com/info_8414030_natural-keep-bugs-off-basil.html#page=1

Thank you both for the advice!

look for worms under the leaves,
here is a picture of one
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/butterflies/LifeCycle-Gallery/images/ParsleyWorm3.jpg
http://ca.search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&p=basil+worms

Genevieve thanks I checked n no worm, just something tha reassembles coffee ground

Check at Night! You will find...either Slugs, Rolly Polly's or Worm like critters! Good luck! It's happening to me NOW! It's such a Pain! These are my pic from 4days ago as they eat my flowers;( ~Jan

Have you planted companion plants in your herb garden? Do you have some frogs to help you out? Slugs will drown themselves in a shallow pan of beer! Lady bugs and lacewings can help your pest problem.

Janaline. Sorry about your plants, ill check at nite. Thanks

Decoenthusiate .. I will try the bear idea and see what happens. I don't have any companion plant. Which one can I plant?

It might be slugs or caterpillars (the black stuff can be the caterpillars' droppings). You could try to make what is called Cornell mixture
To 1 gallon of water, mix the following ingredients:
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon horticultural oil
1 or 2 drops dishwashing liquid (something mild)
Make this mixture and spray in the evening when the sun is going away,,you don't want to burn the plant.

Don't know if this will work for you, but due to old wives or gardeners tales here I plant marigolds in our vegetable/herb garden. Never had a bug problem. Most likely just lucky, but ???

Agreed...plant Marigolds...bugs hate those things...so do most small animals that like to nibble on veggies. I also use an organic soap spray but you have to use it alot. If nothing works...get a couple of Praying Mantis'...best pest control ever, even though they are a little on the creepy side!

marigolds are good if you have slugs..always plant some next to tomatoes for example

I have a hard time growing genovese basil as well because the bugs love it and it tends to bolt around here, which is why I grow variegated basil ('Pesto Perpetuo'). The variegated basil is spicier and less sweet, but it doesn't bolt and is RARELY affected by bugs. Depending on how you want to use the basil, the variegated might be the way to go. Also, the variegated makes for a really nice dried herb because it has a lot more flavor than most basils after the drying process.

Outside of that, I'd start regularly spraying (hard mist) the plants (including the undersides of leaves) with water, putting out slug traps, and occasionally spraying with insecticidal soap. If you're up to it, plant some throw-away plants such as echinacea and milkweed that require very little care throughout much of the US (not sure where you are) and attract a lot of bugs that would rather not deal with herbs being protected by a vigilant gardener.

Printea. Thank you so much, I will try it... Btw caterpillar droppings?eeeewwww I touched those things lol

Everyone thanks for all the info, I have my homework cut out for me !! Definitely planting some plants around them ad making the spray printesa suggested

This is an old thread, but I didn't know Pesto Perpetuo existed until I read this thread. I have an order in because my basil keeps bolting and drives me nuts. It's like I need new plants every other week to keep a fresh supply on hand.