[en] In an attempt to delay hatching without affecting their viability, the eggs of Latheticus oryzae W. were subjected to cold treatment at 5deg for varying periods and at different stages of their development. A small dose of 0.5 krad of gamma radiation was also given at each of those temperature treatments. Most of the eggs hatched at 30deg following low-temperature ex-posures of 1 and 2 days. There was a significant decrease in hatch as the exposure period increased further (P<0.05). An egg exposure to 5deg also led to an increase in egg period and the increase was nearly equal to the period of cold exposure. Radiation did not alter the situation