Eye Gnats

Its very hard to say for sure what this insect is, but maybe you can confirm or deny our best guess, based on what we can see of the insect. Could this be an Eye Gnat? The only clue is the white markings on the wings… at least that’s what we think we’re seeing in this photo. They are very small fly-like insects (you know – gnats) that have been an issue in organic gardens because they breed and develop in moist, well-drained sandy soils with abundant organic matter. They are pests of people and animals, not plants. They are good flyers but they also get blown long distances by the wind. They love the So Cal climate and can sometimes breed year round. We’ve included a link from the Univ of CA about them and some control measures. Sounds like its a challenge to control them so if you continue to have trouble you may want to get someone from the UC extension farm advisors office to come out and talk with you.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74164.html