I can't see a thing because the bright highlight has burned out the details. Can we try a different image?

another image here
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pests/msg051503173021.html

Here is a link that might be useful: image

We are experiencing the very same trouble in in south-central CT with our spinach crop. The plants are growing very well, leaves are whole, and the white dots rub off and feel like sand. They also appear to wash off in the kitchen sink without trouble. The spinach tastes just fine.

I'm eager to learn what these are. I first though, leaf-miners, and we have those in another spinach patch. But the eggs are the wrong size and too numerous.

Next, I thought aphids. I did see a green aphid on the underside of a leaf. But I've never seen aphids with so many eggs on so many plants. I'm wondering if it has something to do with the climate and perhaps the a fungus or some kind? But the plants are growing well.

Very strange...

Jason

Same here in Boulder, CO. I think I will take it to the Cooperative Extension office.

Oh: the variety I have planted is Bloomsdale or Olympia, hard to tell as sometimes I let them self seed. What variety have you planted?

What varieties of spinach are we talking about? I have olympia and bloomsdale.

It's a challenge to see just what the white spots are. The one image has so much bright light that detail is lost in the small leaf. And the closer image on your other post is still too small to see detail.

If they wash off readily, they could be aphids, very common soft-bodied beasts that get on spinach.

Further, it's not a disease since they do wash off easily.

I am growing Corenta hybrid spinach variety. I doubt that the white dots would be aphids. I do not have a magnifier but when I look from close they do not look like insects and they do not move around at all. Also they are too nicely almost symmetrically spaced on the leaves and that do not look like aphid aggregation.
I am not convinced that it is not a disease because I let it progress on a few spinach that I did not harvest, and I started seeing small `lesions` when I rubbed off the dots. It also felt gluey on my fingertips while before it was a dry sand-like feeling.

OP said " I let it progress on a few spinach that I did not harvest, and I started seeing small `lesions` when I rubbed off the dots"

Well that's a helpful bit of info. thanks

Look up white rust.

That's not what white rust looks like, nor how the OP's described indications manifest themselves in white rust. There needs to be a better picture or description of view under magnification.

Dan

I believe I said that. I'm only working with a very few facts & a too small image.

Isn't long-distance diagnosing fun? (More like guessing, right?)

Okay. It's your turn for the next guess.

With these clues, I'm not sure fun is the right f-word, but I can work with that. ;o)

Dan

Hey, I think what all you guys are talking about is thrips. What you are seeing, are their eggs. They suck nutrients and are often carriers for diseases, so not a good thing. You can add beneficial insects Amblyseius cucumbers to the soil and they will stop the infestation. Also using Hypoaspis miles in conjunction will eat the soil dwelling thrips.

The lowest cost for these bugs I found were 1.99, so thats pretty good.

Hope that helps.