none The species composition of the tobacco budworm/bollworm complex varied considerably among field crops in South Carolina (USA) from 1986-1989. All larvae collected from corn each year were Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), while 95-100% of those collected from peanuts and soybeans were Ha. zea. Species composition was more variable on cotton, ranging from 41.94% Ha. zea, with the balance being Heliothis virescens (F.). Nearly 100% of the larvae collected from tobacco prior to flowering were Hs. virescens. However, late-season collections yielded as high as 67% Ha. zea. Rates of parasitism on budworm/bollworm larvae were quite variable among crops and years. The composition was greatly influenced by the host species complex, with parasitism generally being higher on Hs. virescens than on Ha. zea. The tachinid flies Archytas marmoratus (Townsend) and Lespesia aletiae (Riley) were found predominantly on larvae of Ha. zea, as were the braconid wasps Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) and Microplitis croceipes (Cresson). The braconid Cardiochiles nigriceps Viereck was the predominant parasite of Hs. virescens.