AbstractA comparative study of the olfactory responses to pheromone compounds was performed in twenty‐four species of Hadeninae. Electroantennograms (EAG) were recorded on male moths in response to thirty compounds and the response profiles of each species were analysed by factorial correspondence analysis. A limited number of molecules were found active and the most effective stimuli were Z9 tetradecenes and Z11 hexadecenes. The species of theMythimnagenus were most sensitive to aldehydes.Tholera decimalisdid not respond to any of the molecules tested. The species belonging to theMamestraand theOrthosiagenera responded to a variety of molecules and no simple correlation was found between the genus and the EAG sensibility. Pheromone reception is discussed in relation to the taxonomy and the evolution of olfactory communication in Hadenina