The mortality of Euschistus heros (F.) at the egg stage was studied at the field. The experiments were carried out in Planaltina - D.F., Brazil, in 1993 and 1994, on sunflower (Helianthus annuus) cultivated following the soybean (Glycine max) crop season. Egg masses found in the field were marked and checked daily for four days, and taken to the laboratory to check the total number of eggs, eggs that failed to hatch and those parasitized or destroyed by predators. The incidence of parasitism in eggs of E. heros was high in 1993 (65%) and in 1994 (80%). Five species of parasitoids were recovered: Telenomus podisi Ashmead, Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston), Trissolcus teretis Johnson, Trissolcus urichi Crawford (Scelionidae) and Eupelmus sp. (Eupelmidae). T. podisi was the most frequent species. Egg mortality due to predators was 17% in 1993 and 13% in 1994.
Insecta; biological control; soybean; sunflower; Telenomus; Trissolcus
