Check out 'tiny orange eggs...' below on this page.

Thanks petzold, but there doesn't seem to be agreement as to what they might be. Obviously, ladybug eggs are good, cucumber beetle eggs are bad. I have a lot of squash and cucumber plants that I don't want to lose.

Is there a way to tell the difference visually?

The eggs of squash and cucumber beetles will be laid on the appropriate host plants. It is extremely unlikely that you would find them on your tomatillo. If adult beetles laid their eggs just any ol' place, their offspring wouldn't have anything to eat. Some of these phytophagous insects are host plant specific.

The eggs (and tiny larvae) in the other thread are definitely those of a ladybug.

rhizo, I can see the logic of that! But, this afternoon I went out there and found some eggs that I missed, and they had apparently hatched. The leaf they were on had been chewed and it looked like the larvae were doing the chewing, but they were very tiny. Maybe I should use a lens to really see the larvae so I know for sure what's going on. Or take a photo.

Do cucumber beetles bother tomatillo? I did get a few yesterday that were at least resting on the tomatillo. Which is how I made the connection. Other than a few ants I didn't see anything that ladybugs or their larvae might be interested in. No aphids that I could see.

You know what? I've reminded myself that cuke/squash beetles DO pester tomatillos! Your observations are better than my memory, so thanks for educating us.

Cuke beetle eggs look very much like those of ladybugs.

The good news is that I haven't found any more eggs or cuke beetles. The bad news is that there's always tomorrow!

I'm not really worried about the tomatillo, I bought it as a lark. but if something happens to my squashes or cukes I will be very upset. Thanks for your replies, there's so much to learn about gardening I am so glad for these forums!

It could be the three lined potato beetle and their larvae. The eggs are orange, oblong, in two rows usually. They were on my tomatillos as well as my potatoes this year.

Tomatillos grow like weeds, so just pick or squish the bugs/eggs/larvae that you find and you should be all set (assuming that it's a pest and not a friendly bug).

Here is a link that might be useful: Three Lined Potat Beetle Pictures