Question
QUESTION: Hi there,
My question is in regards to my potted rose plant. This week I've noticed these small black/dark brown fruit-fly like insects crawling around the soil and around the edge of the pot. There are two plants next to it as well, but they aren't on them. They don't seem to be on the leaves or stems of the plant.

I have no idea what they are or where they came from. The leaves look fine, and the plant is still growing new leaves. There are NO webs or white insects on the leaves, just these fruit-fly like insects on the soil and around the pot.

They insects are tiny (fruit fly size), dark, long body, and have little wings but don't seem to fly around much.
The plant is still growing and looks healthy. Any idea what these insects are and what to do about them?

The potted mini-rose plant (Patiohit roses grown in Canada) was a gift - one of those they sell in supermarkets.  The closest largest city is Toronto, Ontario Canada. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!

ANSWER: The eggs of these little soil flies re in the pot before you got it but they need warmth before they can hatch. Now that they have the warmth, all the eggs are hatching out. They are easy to get rid of, just use any organic type spray that has Pyrethrum in it. Make sure you spray all the soil as that is where the majority of the flies will hatch from. Hope this helps.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your quick response. I'll look for a spray. Are these soil flies very harmful to the plant?

Also, the Pyrethrum sprays, are they harmful for humans inhale? The plant is in a workplace close to where people sit, will spraying the soil be dangerous to people in the vicinity?

Answer
Fungus gnats seldom cause any damage to plants. The larva (worm) is the only form to feed, and it feeds mainly on fungus and organic matter in the soil. The life cycle of the fungus gnat is very short. The adult fungus gnat lays tiny eggs, singly or in clusters, on the soil in houseplants. In about 4 days, the eggs hatch into white larvae resembling tiny earthworms. Within a 2-week period, the larvae begin to spin tiny silken cocoons in the soil. The pupal stage lasts only 1 week. Adult fungus gnats emerge and mate. The adult stage lasts only 1 week, but the female will lay around 100-150 eggs during that time. The entire life cycle lasts only 4 weeks.
One of the easiest ways to control gnats is to allow the soil in houseplants plants to dry out before re-watering. Larvae cannot survive in dry soil. You could try that and hope that the rose doesn't complain. If that doesn't work then Safers Soap spray which is made from the perennial Pyrethrum daisy, will solve your problem. It isn't harmful at all.