Verificou-se a influência de duas variedades de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.), incorparados em dieta artificial, na forma de colmos triturados, no desenvolvimento de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) e no parasitismo de Cotesia flavipes (Cam.). A variedade SP71-1081 foi menos adequada ao desenvolvimento de D. saccharalis comparada à SP71-3146, aumentando os períodos larval e pupal (dias) e, diminuindo o peso larval; não houve diferenças para as viabilidades larval e pupal e peso de pupa. Lagartas oriundas das dietas artificiais e lagartas alojadas no interior dos toletes das variedades de cana, foram igualmente parasitadas por C. flavipes. Lagartas criadas em dieta artificial contendo colmos triturados das variedades testadas, promoveram desenvolvimento semelhante de C. flavipes. A percentagem de parasitismo foi semelhante nas larvas criadas em dietas artificiais contendo colmos das variedades SP 71 - 1081 (84,0%) e SP 71-3146 (81,3%).In this study it was observed the influence of two sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) varieties, that were included in an artificial diet as powdered stem, on development of Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) and parasistism by Cotesia flavipes (Cam.). The variety SP71 - 1081 was less suitable (P ≤ 0.05) to D. saccharalis development than SP 71-3146, delaying larval and pupal period and decreasing larval weight; no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed for larval and pupal survival as well as pupal weight. D. saccharalis larvae reared on artificial diet and on sugarcane stem were equally preferred by the parasitoid C. flavipes. Larvae reared on artificial diet with powdered stem of the tested varieties promoted a similar development of C. flavipes. The percent of parasitism in the larvae reared in artificials diets contention of the SP 71-1081 (84.0%) and SP 71-3146 (81.3%) varieties were similar.