The pink stem borer ( Sesamia nonagrioides Lefebre) is one of the most important rice pests in the Mediterranean area. The objective of this study was to identify rices resistant to pink stem borer and to determine plant characteristics associated with resistance. A total of 257 rice lines was evaluated in the field under natural infestation conditions during 1997 and 1998. The comparison between years was based on nine rice cultivars (Baldo 363, Koral, Ariete, Loto, Senia, Thaibonnet, Cigalon, Makedonia and Dion) which were common in the experimentation of both years and were used as control. A randomized complete block design with two replications was used for evaluation. The number of stems and panicles with infestation symptoms by the pink stem borer was measured at maturity. The infestation percentage of the plants varied from 0 to 89%, and on the average, it was higher in 1998 compared to 1997. The lines exhibited considerable variation in heading day (HD, 50–110 days), plant height (HT, 50–170 cm) and stem diameter (SD, 3–8 mm). The infestation was significantly correlated with HD, HT and SD. The ratio of plants with stem damage to those with panicle damage varied from 0.2 (Harra) to 11 (CT-13) but in the majority of lines it was less than 3. Eleven resistant lines (CI 1992K15, YRL-196, Colina, Frances, Niva, SB 1086, SB 428, SBSS 82, Lampo, IR-28, and IR-30), with infestation percentage less than 10%, were identified. These might be useful sources of resistance for rice breeding programmes in Mediterranean countries.