Little Black Flys

[TickleTheCat]

I recently repotted my African Violets and have noticed lots of little black flys hanging around them. They aren't 'black fly'. These are much smaller... a bit like those little fruit flys you get around over ripe fruit. Does anyone have any idea what these are and why they have taken to my AV? The plants are healthy.

[Thunderbird+]

They could be 'Scariad flies' (compost flies) or fungus gnats.
They feed mostly on fine root hairs and can be a real pest if you have a lot of seedlings.
Treat with houseplant bug spray on soil surface.
Good Luck Tbird+

[TickleTheCat]

Many thanks Tbird I have done just that
Sherry

[Plocket]

When you've killed off those that you've got at the moment, put a layer of grit around your plants - that helps prevent them from laying eggs and therefore reproducing. It also stops the leaves of your African Violets from touching the soil which can make the leaves rot.

[TickleTheCat]

Ahhh thank you, I'm always pulling off the underneath leaves as they rot when they touch the damp soil