Abstract  [Objectives]  To determine the preferences of adult rape stem weevils, Ceuthorrhynchus asper Roel for plant volatiles from different varieties of oilseed rape in order to identify the varieties most attractive to this pest, and thereby provide a basis for developing environmentally-friendly control measures. [Methods]  Y-type olfactometers were used to determine the preferences of C. asper for volatiles from different varieties of oilseed rape. Volatile components of different rape varieties were extracted and identified using headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Important volatile components of rape varieties were analyzed with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA).  [Results]  Adult rape stem weevils significantly preferred volatiles from the CKE58 and Qingza 5 varieties to those from the other two varieties tested. A total of 47 volatile compounds were identified, including esters, alcohols, aldehydes, terpenoids, alkenes and alkanes. Esters were the predominant volatile in every variety, comprising > 81% of all volatiles. PCA and PLS-DA analyses indicate significant differences in volatile compounds and their contents among the different oilseed rape varieties. Important or characteristic volatile compounds included (Z)-3-hexyenyl acetate, 1-undecanol, hexyl acetate, (E)-3-hexen-1-ol and (E)-2-dodecene, etc. [Conclusion]  The rape stem beetle is attracted to the CKE58 and Qingza 5 varieties of oil seed rape. Characteristic volatile components of these varieties, include (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, 1-undecanol, hexyl acetate and €-3-hexen-1-ol, and may play a key role in the host selection behavior of C. asper. These results provide a basis for developing new monitoring and environmentally-friendly control methods for C. asper.