HARVESTING BASIL, then THIS happened! Flower Farm Fail

What is this on my basil plants?? I was harvesting bail to make some beautiful dried basil wreaths when I noticed it. I had to stop my harvest and wait until I knew more. Has this ever happened to you? Also, any guesses what this is on the basil plants? Eggs? But what kind of eggs? Leave your guess in the comments.
Also, who noticed all the gorgeous butterflies accompanying me today? We are so happy to have such lovely garden friends.
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Who are Dick and Hope:
We are nature and garden lovers. We enjoy relating to our verdant planet and each other through creating, cultivating, and exploring.
We currently split our time between New Jersey Zone 7a and Texas Zone 8a. We garden and enjoy nature in both places as well as anywhere we can along the way. Watch as we transform our landscapes and pursue our dreams of flower farming, vegetable growing and self sustainability. We are learning as we go and are eager to share our journey with you. We would love to hear from you! Please drop us a comment and let us know where you are gardening and what you love most about being outside in the dirt!
Share your garden with us on Instagram by tagging @dickandhope