u/SquirrelAkl

I originally thought snails but the beans themselves have been so obviously targeted in this latest raid, so now I’m thinking rats.

Found this when investigating why my basil was looking so sick and munched. I’d bought the basil and a few other herbs from a garden centre a few months ago. Found a few small green caterpillars on the mint, which I killed, but the basil culprit had escaped me… until today.

I was frankly quite horrified at the sheer size of this beast. I threw it over the fence, but having looked it up with Google lens I’m now thinking I should have killed it on the spot, right?

One plant is several years old, self seeded. The other I bought from Mitre 10 and planted 2 months ago. Both were green until a few weeks ago, now they’re growing some reddish-purple leaves.

I’m guessing maybe something in the soil? But I have changed nothing and one of the plants has been there for years. Thoughts?

Ps. The cat doesn’t mind, it all tastes the same to her.