Oviposition of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), was deterred by extracts from fruits of the chinaberry, Melia azedarach L., grown in Taiwan. The oviposition was significantly reduced by 49.6, 86.6 and 93.5% in choice tests and 46.2, 72.1 and 80.2% in no‐choice tests at concentrations of 0.5, 2.0 and 4.0%, respectively. In addition to ovipositional deterrence, chinaberry fruit extract showed repellency to the moth when applied to rape seedlings.