Sugar derivatives comprising oxiranes or alpha, beta-unsaturated gamma-lactones, process for their preparation and their utilisation as pesticides

A method for controlling pests, the method comprising applying an effective amount to pests or their locus of one or more compounds of general formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 represent, independently from each other, hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy or an ester group; R1 and R2, together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, represent an oxirane ring; R1 and R2, taken together, represent an akylidenedioxy or substituted alkylidenedioxy group; and R3 represents -CH2R6, wherein R6 represents an ester group, oxiranyl, or a group of formula wherein R7 represents hydrogen or alkyl, R8 represents phenylsulfanyl, phenylselenyl, phenylsulfoxy or phenylselenoxy, and R9 represents hydrogen, ethoxycarbonyl or carbamoyl; and R4 represents, independently, hydrogen, alkoxy or substituted alkoxy, or R1 and R4, taken together, represent an alkylidenedioxy or a substituted alkylidenedioxy group; wherein the pest dies as a result of contact with the compound.