Problem with my cantaloupe?

[Themacmum]

I'm not sure if I should be concerned about these white spots on a couple of my cantaloupe leaves.

 

[Chuck]

I'm not sure if I should be concerned about these white spots on a couple of my cantaloupe leaves.

On the lower leaves those white areas look like aphid damage but it is fairly old. Under magnification it appears that some of the new leaves have tiny white spots which could be either eggs or aphids or maybe even mealy bugs. Take a very close look with a magnifying glass at both sides of the leaves to make sure what they are. If insects or eggs spray every 6 days with a spinosad based insecticide

 

[Themacmum]

On the lower leaves those white areas look like aphid damage but it is fairly old. Under magnification it appears that some of the new leaves have tiny white spots which could be either eggs or aphids or maybe even mealy bugs. Take a very close look with a magnifying glass at both sides of the leaves to make sure what they are. If insects or eggs spray every 6 days with a spinosad based insecticide

I inspected them very closely and found no major insect activity or eggs. With the exception of a few small flies and what appears to be a small lone chigger (very small pin head size red moving dot). I looked for more "chiggers" if that is what they are, but couldn't find any. Should I still treat for aphids?

 

[Chuck]

I inspected them very closely and found no major insect activity or eggs. With the exception of a few small flies and what appears to be a small lone chigger (very small pin head size red moving dot). I looked for more "chiggers" if that is what they are, but couldn't find any. Should I still treat for aphids?

You have described a spider mite. It seems early for them but I wouldn't take any chances. They will infest just about every thing in your garden. Spinosad will take care of them if you treat early enough. You know the old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". These things live and overwinter in the soil so keep an eye out. So yes treat now. Spinosad is an all around pesticide that is completely harmless to everything except insects and caterpillars. Totally organic. Made from a specific soil bacteria.

 

[Themacmum]

I bought some spinosad. Should I remove the affected leaves or just treat and keep an eye out?

 

[Chuck]

I bought some spinosad. Should I remove the affected leaves or just treat and keep an eye out?

Spray and just keep an eye out. It's not that big of a deal

 

[Corzhens]

From the looks of it, I guess it is getting too much sun. I had planted cantaloupe in the backyard which are already flowering and the leaves look healthy enough. As a remark of my husband, the leaves are large and very green because the sunlight is just enough and if I had planted it in the front yard then some leaves will be wilted due to too much sun.