'Droppings' round my basil plant! Please help!!

[Jadezoe333]

I bought a basil plant four weeks ago and after a week of having it I started to notice tiny clumps of what looks like soil on the table around the pot. They are between the size of a pin head and a small pill. I clean them up but I have noticed more and more of them appearing. I would think it was a mouse but 1. I have a cat and 2. the 'droppings' are also on the higher leaves of the plant. If I had mice surely I would find these around the rest of the house too and not just around my plant in the middle of my kitchen table?

I am so confused! Can anyone help?

[NanTheWiser]

Sounds like a small caterpillar - inspect all the leaves carefully (especially for any "webbing").

[sonias27]

yeah i would agree with nanthewiser, sounds like a caterpillar. If that's the case give this spray around the plant and that will stop any insects etc comming near it.

[NanTheWiser]

Not if you intend to eat the Basil, sonias27, safest way is to spray with dilute washing up liquid.

[P1nkP0ppy]

Cover the soil with a paper towel/sellotape, carry it outside and turn it upside down and give it a good shake.
Then, still upside down, immerse the plant in a bucket of water to which you added a few drops of washing liquid.
Dip it up and down and swish it around.
Take out and stand it somewhere warming to dry.
That's what I did and several small caterpillars departed for caterpillar heaven 😀

[Jadezoe333]

It is a caterpillar! Thank you all for your advice. I found him under a leaf and he's a pretty big fella! Now to decide if I want a caterpillar housemate or to put him outside...