Thiazoles and their use in controlling insects and pests

A method for controlling insects comprising applying to them an insecticidally effective amount of a compound of the general formula (I):

• ##STR47## wherein:
• R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 can be the same or different and are hydrogen or an alkyl group containing up to 3 carbon atoms, and R and R.sup.1 can be the same or different and are:
• (a) hydrogen
• (b) an alkyl group containing up to 6 carbon atoms
• (c) a cycloalkyl group containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms
• (d) a cyano group
• (e) a nitro group
• (f) --R.sup.10 COXR.sup.3 wherein R.sup.10 is a single covalent bond or a divalent aliphatic acyclic hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms, X is divalent sulfur or oxygen, and R.sup.6 is
• (i) an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group containing up to 12 carbon atoms
• (ii) a cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms
• (iii) an aryl, aralkyl, alkyl substituted aralkyl, or alkaryl group containing 6 to 10 carbon atoms
• (iv) an hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, arkylaminoalkyl, or aralkylaminoalkyl group containing up to 10 carbon atoms
• (g) --R.sup.10 COR.sup.7 where R.sup.10 has the meaning specified in (f) and wherein R.sup.7 is:
• (i) hydrogen;
• (ii) an alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms or phenyl;
• (iii) an --NR.sup.8 R.sup.9 group wherein R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 can be the same or different and are:
• hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, and alkylaminoalkyl containing up to 8 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl of 5 to 8 carbon atoms, an aryl, haloaryl, aralkyl, and alkaryl having 6 to 10 carbon atoms.