What kind of bug is this, and is it damaging my plants?

[soxy]

Well, hopefully they were not beneficial (growth seemed more vigorous before they appeared anyway), as I have sprinkled some DE on the tops of my containers. So far this appears to have done the trick.

However, the picture of the bennie mite (H. miles) looks similar to what I was dealing with. I couldnt imagine being lucky enough to actually have a beneficial insect infestation, but i guess crazier things have happened.

Try to adapt them to your laundry hamper now...........

 

[buzzmobile]

here are some pics of wingless fungus gnats.

The picture you provided shows an aphid not "wingless fungus gnats". The two little appendages at the rear of the abdomen are called cornicles, and they are a sure sign of an aphid.