A taxonomie inventory is under way in South America to identify the major natural enemies of the cassava green mites, Mononychellus tanajoa. Special emphasis is being given to the Phytoseiidae, important predators of phytophagous mites feeding on cassava. Several insect predators and more than 40 species of Phytoseiidae have been identified in Colombia; Typhlodromalus limonicus and Neoseiulus anonymus are the most frequently found species. Selected aspects of the bionomic studies on T. limonicus and N. anonymus are presented, and methods of rearing numerous phytoseiid species are discussed. Five species are being reared at the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) and have been sent to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria. Surveys for natural enemies will include most cassava-growing areas of Central and South America. Selection of exploration sites and timing of explorations will be guided by matching agrometeorological zones in the country of origin with those in the proposed country of introduction. Duration of dry periods, rainfall patterns and temperature are particularly important considerations in the matching.