Abstract The species Helicoperva titicacae is reported for the first time in Chile outside it's of natural distributional range in Peru. During 2011-2013 adults of this moth were collected in forests of tamarugo (Prosopis tamarugo F. Philippi), located in the Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve, Tarapacá Region, Chile (20°24´S - 69°44'W). There is no evidence of when this species could have expanded his range of distribution from southeast Peru to the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. Helicoperva is a particularly invasive pest and his presence in the country could represents a potential threat to several crops and native forests.