none Experiments were conducted to determine the influence of the density and size of patches of soybeans (Glycine max (L.)) on the extent of pod damage by the lima bean pod-borer Etiella zinckenella (Treitschke). In addition, an evaluation was made of changes in rates of parasitism as a function of changes in patch characteristics. Low-density plots had a greater proportion of pod damage than did high-density plots. Plot size did not influence the proportion of pods attacked per plant. Larval parasitoids of E. zinckenella , in general, were not influenced by plant density but were influenced by host herbivore density. Other experiments were conducted to determine if mixtures of soybeans with a feral host, Crotalaria pallida Ait, a species in the Fabaceae, would influence damage by the pod borer or parasitism. Nutrition; Diet; Parasites diseases and disorders; Parasites; Insect parasites; Hosts; Insect hosts; Host parasite relationships; Ecology; Population dynamics; Habitat; Terrestrial habitat; Man made habitat Etiella zinckenella (Pyralidae); Food plants; Crotalaria pallida & Glycine max (soybean); Hymenopteran parasites; Iconella etiellae; Density relations; Prevalence; Density relations with Iconella etiellae (Hymenoptera); Population density; Food plant & hymenopteran parasite densities relationship, cultivated land; Cultivated land habitat; Density relations with food plants & hymenopteran parasite Iconella etiellae (Braconidae); Lepidopteran hosts; Etiella zincknella; Density relations; Prevalence; Etiella zinckenella (Lepidoptera) host density relations, cultivated land; Plant and vegetation habitats; Crotalaria pallida & Glycine max (soybean); Cultivated land habitat; Density relations with lepidopteran host