What are these gnats nesting in my BRT?

[Anders51]

I recently got a Brazilian rain tree this summer and have had it outside up until now. Both outside in the summer and now inside I have seen these small insects on the tree. They mostly seem to be near or on new growth. I'm guessing they're feasting on the sap the tree produces. As far as I can tell they don't seem to be harming the tree. They seem fairly inactive, poking them yields minimal movement. Should I be worried or try to remove them with some method?

 

[Shibui]

Some look like some sort of aphid. Almost certainly sucking sap which doesn't make a big difference when numbers are low but aphids breed quick so it may not continue to be causing no harm for long.
I'd be trying to get rid of them.
If only one tree and few bugs physical removal can work. If you are not comfortable squashing bugs then a contact insecticide should work on aphids. Pyrethrum is low toxic or your choice of pesticide.

 

[Paradox]

I agree with shibui, some of them look like some kind of aphid and you need to get rid of them somehow. The light colored one on the leaf almost looks like an egg sac

 

[Colorado]

Agree, aphids. I have always been able to eradicate them very easily with a steady stream of water. Never needed chemicals for aphids, personally.

 

[jonfromchicago]

I believe these are whiteflies. When I first got my BRTs, these whiteflies were constantly on my BRT's new growth. Use whatever insecticide you're comfortable with using, I used Bayer Insecticide. Try to hose down the tree's leaves once in a while to knock off any eggs that may still be on the tree.

 

[Anders51]

I have used a spray bottle with a tight hose setting filled with water and a little soap to get rid of most of them. I also think that little yellow bits in new leaf growth are eggs (previously I thought this was natural tree sap or something). I will probably keep doing this for a few days to weeks to see how it goes. If the infestation gets doesn't get better or gets worse I will resort to insecticide. I'll look to update at some point

 

[Neo_Rokkenjima]

You have these little bastards on yours too, eh? I had trouble identifying them myself-- there are some which look like aphids, and others which are brown, but still aphid-shaped. Unlike aphids, however, they'll dance to the other side of the branch when you put your finger near, in order to evade being squished. I've killed most all of mine, mostly by squishing. I recently used two nuclear Neem bombs (affectionately called "Fat Man" and "Little Boy") both to clean up the aftermath and make sure that any eggs will not survive. This is because the eyes are good at detecting movement, but not something that doesn't move. I only use organic Neem when spraying for aphids.