A major pest in Central American maize production is the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda. To prevent farmers from reverting to unsustainable pest management, low-cost and environmentally-sound alternatives need to be promoted. A practice with high potential for adoption in subsistence agriculture is conservation biological control. To underpin conservation biological control and ensure its adoption among smallholders, a solid ecological base is required. We determined the association between natural enemy abundance, abiotic factors, and FAW population dynamics within maize fields in Honduran highlands. Pest severity generally remained below the economic injury level. Altitude and planting date affected in-field pest infestation. Arthropod predators, parasitoids, and entomopathogens were monitored within fields. Fall armyworm parasitism attained low levels (1-11%). The most abundant predator in maize was the earwig Doru taeniatum (Dorhn) while ants, spiders, ground beetles, and stinkbugs were also frequently observed. The ant community, sampled with baits and observed on maize plants, was dominated by the fire ant Solenopsis geminate (F.). Within-field density of prominent natural enemies during key maize developmental stages was related to FAW infestation levels and population dynamics. High early-season density of spiders was associated with lowered pest levels. Relationships between high densities of carabids or earwigs, and lowered pest population levels were observed throughout the cropping season. Additionally, interactions were discovered between pest population dynamics and abundance of vespid wasps and ants, especially of S. geminata in pest suppression. A key pest of subsistence maize production therefore appears effectively suppressed by interplay of natural enemies and abiotic factors.