A two-year survey conducted in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas revealed several important trends regarding the current distribution and potential impact of native parasites associated with boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman. Parasitism of boll weevil was evident in only 3 of 30 fields sampled during June,July, 1989, and in 13 of 52 fields sampled during August-September, 1990. Parasites reared from boll weevil included four primary parasites (Bracon mellitor Say, Catolaccus hunteri Crawford, Urosigalphus anthonomi Crawford, and an unidentified eupelmid) and a fifth which appeared to be hyperparasitic (an unidentified eurytomid). Certain primary parasites were widely distributed but tended to be relatively rare (e.g., B. mellitor) while others appeared to be highly localized in distribution but occasionally became abundant (e.g., U. anthonomi). Consistent increases of U. anthonomi in the vicinity of Brownsville demonstrated the ability of this species to destroy significant numbers of boll weevils (up to ca. 40% parasitism) in the absence of any augmentation or habitat manipulation. The potential role of native parasites in pest management efforts against boll weevil are discussed.