Field surveys carried out in Mozambique showed that two indigenous cereal stemborers, Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and one exotic stemborer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), are the main pests of maize and sorghum in the country. Busseola fusca was abundant at high altitudes (>800 m) and Ch. partellus was abundant at low altitudes (<800 m). Sesamia calamistis occurred at all elevations but in low numbers. Of the three stemborers, Ch. partellus was the most widespread and abundant pest of maize followed by B. fusca. Therefore, a programme was initiated to introduce the exotic parasitoid Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to increase natural suppression of Ch. partellus populations. Cotesia flavipes was introduced into southern Mozambique for the first time in November 1996. Additional releases were subsequently carried out in several places in southern and central Mozambique from 1998-2000. The parasitoid was recovered from all localities sampled 1 to 3 years after its introduction, indicating that this exotic parasitoid had established in the southern and central regions of Mozambique. none