Question
I have a ton of these little gnats that have all of a sudden shown up  and they are hanging out in my plants. Can you tell me why they have shown up and how to keep them away?

Answer
Dear Brandy,

Insects descend on plants because they want to suck the tasty sap from the leaves and stems.  If you regularly check your plants you can keep them at bay by misting the leaves frequently [make sure that your plant is one which enjoys misting - plants with hairy leaves do NOT, i.e. African Violets, Begonia Rex, Gloxinias, also cacti and succulents.  By misting and sponging the leaves you will keep them dust and insect free or, at the very least, be alerted in the very early stages when insects have arrived.

However, now that they are there you have to kill them so, firstly, you need to identify them - they could be whitefly, aphids [greenfly] fungus gnats, or thrips which are all flying/jumping insects.  Malathion is an excellent insecticide for killing these pests and, if you can buy one which is systemic, even better.  This means that it enters the sap system so that any insects which are not killed by contact with the spray or new ones that come along afterwards will be killed when they start sucking the plant sap.  You'll get them one way or the other!

If it is possible, isolate infected plants preferably outdoors where you can spray them thus not having the smell of the spray inside your house.

I do hope the above information will help to eradicate all your insects and remember to keep them, the plants that is, clean and the air surrounding them humid by misting them frequently once they are pest free.  Good Luck.

Diana