Lepidopterous larvae were monitored for 3 years for parasitization by Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) in soybean planted early-, mid- and late-season in South Carolina. The parasitoid occurred in soybean planted on all dates. It was most abundant in early plantings at three of five sites; two of the three early planting where the parasitoid was most abundant hosted more P. scabra first through fourth instars. Therefore, planting date had a significant effect on P. scabra populations, thus an indirect effect on the numbers of larvae parasitized by C. marginiventris in the various plantings. This effect was not evident in subsequently occurring lepidopterans which did not reach economic threshold levels. none