Black & White Bugs

Marjoram, growing at a maddening pace. The stalk at the soil surface was quickly inadequate to support the height, so an old basil stem was used to shore it up. Didn't last long as you can see. The time span of the photos is one week!

The final photo is of some sort of parasite that I haven't identified yet, but it seems to love munching on basil, chives, and marjoram. A bit of dawn dish soap mixed with water and applied with a spray bottle seems to spoil their fun, and, while the plants are indoors, diatomaceous earth (food grade) will be dehydrating their butts. Word of warning, watering will "dissolve" the d.e. and push what doesn't down into the soil. While I have not read anything pertaining to detrimental effects on earthworms, I have seen notes regarding it's use against slugs. Further, it will eradicate all exoskeletoned/carapaced insects. This includes the beneficial ones that will eat the pesky ones if you leave all well enough alone. Something to consider, if you are planting outside in plots, etc.: Companion gardening. The idea is beyond the scope of this post and my knowledge, at present. I just recently began really looking into it. The idea is that by planting certain plants together, they will help each other regarding pests, nutrition, etc.