Seasonal incidence of larvae of the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens (F.)) and corn earworm (Helicoverpa (= Heliothis) zea (Boddie)), and their parasitoids on tobacco, was monitored at two locations in eastern Tennessee (USA) during 1987 and 1988. During this 2-yr study, most (ca. 83%) of the field-collected larvae were Heliothis virescens. The remaining larvae were Helicoverpa zea. Approximately 23 (n = 2369) and 30% (n = 1016) of the larvae collected in 1987 and 1988, respectively, were parasitized. Parasitoid species reared from field-collected larvae were Campoletis sonorensis (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Cardiochiles nigriceps Viereck and Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) (both Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Archytas marmoratus (Townsend) and Winthemia rufopicta (Bigot) (both Diptera: Tachinidae), as well as a few unidentified tachinid species. Campoletis sonorensis was present throughout the growing season and accounted for ca. 92% of the total parasitism. Cardiochiles nigriceps was collected in early and mid-season; whereas, M. croceipes and tachinid species were present in mid- and late season. none