The paucity of information about egg parasitoids of Spartocera dentiventris (Berg) motivated the present work. This study aimed to determine the parasitoid species involved as well as to quantify the mortality caused by these natural enemies in field conditions. The investigation was carried out in a tobacco crop (cultivar Virgínia, var. K-326) in Porto Alegre, RS. From December/97 to February/98, 20 egg masses of known age were left exposed to all causes of mortality for a period of 13 days. Two species of parasitoids were found on eggs of S. dentiventris: Gryon gallardoi (Brethes) (Hym.: Scelionidae) and Neorileya ashmeadi Crawford (Hym.: Eurytomidae). From a total of 321 observed eggs, only 34.3% (110 eggs) originated nymphs of S. dentiventris. Parasitism was the main mortality factor, killing 148 eggs (46.1%) from the total observed.
Insecta; Heteroptera; tobacco bug; parasitoids