A dipping technique was used to test the ovicidal activity of selected insecticides against pyrethroid resistant (PEG PY-R) and pyrethroid susceptible (LSU PYS) laboratory strains and a field (SJ FIELD) strain of tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.). LC(50)'S for all insecticides except profenofos on eggs of the PEG PY-R strain were significantly higher than LC(50)'s for the same insecticide on eggs of the LSU PY-S strain. Furthermore, all insecticides except profenofos and methomyl were significantly less toxic to eggs of the SJ FIELD strain compared to their respective toxicity to eggs of LSU PY-S strain. In field tests conducted during 1987-1989, all insecticide treatments exhibited initial ovicidal activity (4 h posttreatment) in one or more trials. Formamidines (amitraz, chlordimeform and SN 49844) and a carbamate (thiodicarb) at 0.28 kg ai/ha generally exhibited residual ovicidal activity. Residual toxicity to newly hatched Heliothis spp. larvae was higher for pyrethroid insecticides than other insecticides tested.