In 1971 and 1972, cutworms were collected in the field near Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and reared in the laboratory. The adults were identified as Agrotis ipsilon (Hfn.) (the predominant species), A. (Feltia) malefida Gn., F. fulvaurea (Kohler), Peridroma saucia Hb., Euxoa lutescens (Blanch.) (A. blanchardi Berg), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) and S. eridania (Cram.). The plants attacked by them are listed. Total parasitism of the larvae collected was 11% in 1971 and 21% in 1972. The most abundant parasite was Apanteles bourquini Blanch.; the other parasites included Copidosoma (Litomastix) truncatellum (Dalm.) and Ichneumonids. none