The white specks might be cast skins -- in other words, not aphids but their old "skins."

any chance of pictures?

Here is a picture of the stuff I sprinkled on the leaf. It looks the same as when I sprinkled it when the lacewing eggs arrived.

I have 1 more package of lacewing eggs on the way. Any advice on making them more successful?

Oh, so those are the white specks you mentioned?

If so, they won't disappear until blown or brushed off. They're bran or something similar to cushion the very small lacewing eggs also in the package.