Abstract Airborne volatiles released by Melinis minutiflora P. Beauv., a non-host plant of the spotted stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe), were trapped from the live plant by air entrainment into porous polymer Porapak Q and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The main hydrocarbons identified and confirmed by co-injection with authentic samples on two columns of different polarities were (3E)-4,8-dimethylnona-1,3,7-triene (28.1% of isolated volatiles) and Î²-caryophyllene (24.2% of isolated votatiles). Of these, (3E)-4,8-dimethylnona-1,3,7-triene is electroantenographically active (EAG) against Chilo partellus (Swinhoe).