Abstract  Plant volatiles, transmit information between taxa and thereby play an important role in evolution and community composition. Deciphering the main chemical components of plant volatiles and their ecological functions can not only reveal the co-evolution of organisms, but also identify potentially effective, environmentally-friendly, compounds for sustainable pest management. This paper summarizes the latest progress in research on rice volatiles, mainly focusing on their components and biosynthesis pathways, the regulatory mechanism underlying the biosynthesis of herbivore-induced volatiles, their ecological function and prospects for their application in pest control. Directions for research future are suggested to promote the application of rice volatiles in pest control.