Question
palm had a sticky substance over leaves. small nats coming from soil. leaves are turning brown even with daily care. cut down plant and leaves were covered with brown looking larvae. what is it and what can I do about it? I would like to keep this plant if possible.

Answer
monica

It would help to know where you are located (state, country, north, south, etc.)...A picture would help a lot...With that in mind this is my best guess to solve your problem...   

It sounds like mites but could also be aphids...Mites are harder to get rid of than aphids...If it is mites you should see a fine webbing on the leaves with small grains of sand looking objects (mites)...Put the plant outside or in the bath tub and thoroughly spray water on it to removes mites and webbing (or aphids)...Wait 15 minutes so the leaves dry...Put some rubbing alcohol on 2 clothes and swipe the leaves one cloth on top and one on the bottom surface of the leaf... Do it a couple of times to each leaf...Then thoroughly spray water on it again...Buy a safer soap pesticide(professionally formulated)and spray the plant as per the directions on the label for foliage spray...Buy your products from a local garden center...Take a sample of the infected plant leaf in a sealed plastic bag with you...They should be more than happy to help you and explain how to apply the pesticide...Just spray the safer soap on the leaves if the problem is aphids...

Small worms on and in the soil(probably fly maggots) are a sign of keeping the soil too wet...Use the safer soap pesticide and apply it as a soil trench. It won't hurt the plant and will kill the worms as they hatch...Read the directions on the label....

You could also sprinkle a teaspoon of turf lime over the soil to sweeten(raise the soil pH# of the soil. Wet acidic soils attract flies for breeding purposes.

Gnats and other flies breed in wet soils. Watering this way will prevent it from happening again...Let your plants dry out sufficiently between waterings. Water by weight. Put a saucer under the pot. Water and let the plant sit in the excess water for 5-10 minutes. After that time pour off any excess water in the saucer. Pick up the pot. It should feel heavy. Don't water again until it feels considerably lighter in weight. The soil will be light in color/not dark and wet...Plants die from too frequent waterings #or lack of water when dry#, not from how much water you give them at one time...Outdoors check the plants everyday. Indoors check it every 3-10 days. Watering frequency depends on many factors#sun exposure, wind, day temps, etc.).
Hope this helps...
Rick in southern NJ