In eastern South America, Phthorimaea operculella (Zell.) is of relatively minor importance on both potato and tobacco, though both are indigenous plants. Surveys have therefore been carried out there on the parasites that keep the Gelechiid in check. The surveys were concentrated in the areas round Montevideo (Uruguay) and Santa Fe and Balcarce (Argentina). Although populations of the moth were comparately low, numerous species of larval parasites were reared from the collections made. They included Copidosoma koehleri Blanch., Agathis unicolor (Schrottky), Apanteles subandinus (Zell.) is of relatively minutalis [sic] Mues. Orgilus lepidus Mues., Compoplex haywardi Blanch., Temelucha sp. and a nematode of the genus Hexamermis. A small collection of larvae from Peru yielded Copidosoma oeceticola De Santis, two undescribed species of Apanteles and A. subandinus. Parasitised larvae were shipped to California where the parasites were reared and later sent to various countries for release. none