A granular composition comprising a pesticide, 0.1 to 10 wt % of a nonionic amphiphilic polyalkoxylate, at least 20 wt % of a solid water-soluble anionic dispersant, at least 5 wt % of a sugar, which is a mono- or disaccharide, or a mixture thereof, and a polyvinylpyrrolidone is provided. Methods for the preparation of the granular composition including the steps of (i) providing an aqueous suspension comprising the pesticide, the polyalkoxylate, the dispersant and the sugar, (ii) drying the aqueous suspension, and (iii) granulating the aqueous or dried suspension, and wherein the polyvinylpyrrolidone is added in step (i) and/or step (iii) are further provided. Methods for controlling at least one of phytopathogenic fungi, plant growth, attack by insects or mites, and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the composition is allowed to act on the particular pests, their habitat, the undesired or useful plants, and/or the soil are further provided.

A granular composition comprising a pesticide, 0.1 to 10 wt % of a nonionic amphiphilic polyalkoxylate, at least 20 wt % of a solid water-soluble anionic dispersant, at least 5 wt % of a sugar, which is a mono- or disaccharide, or a mixture thereof, and a polyvinylpyrrolidone is provided. Methods for the preparation of the granular composition including the steps of (i) providing an aqueous suspension comprising the pesticide, the polyalkoxylate, the dispersant and the sugar, (ii) drying the aqueous suspension, and (iii) granulating the aqueous or dried suspension, and wherein the polyvinylpyrrolidone is added in step (i) and/or step (iii) are further provided. Methods for controlling at least one of phytopathogenic fungi, plant growth, attack by insects or mites, and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the composition is allowed to act on the particular pests, their habitat, the undesired or useful plants, and/or the soil are further provided.

Compounds of formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, and the agrochemically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, enantiomers, tautomers and N-oxides of those compounds, can be used as insecticides.

##STR00001##

Compounds of formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, and the agrochemically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, enantiomers, tautomers and N-oxides of those compounds, can be used as insecticides.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to novel active compound combinations comprising at least one known compound of the formula (I) and at least one further active compound of the formula (II), which combinations are highly suitable for controlling animal and microbial pests such as unwanted insects and/or unwanted acarids and/or unwanted nematodes.

The present invention relates to novel active compound combinations comprising at least one known compound of the formula (I) and at least one further active compound of the formula (II), which combinations are highly suitable for controlling animal and microbial pests such as unwanted insects and/or unwanted acarids and/or unwanted nematodes.

Compounds of the formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to agrochemical compositions which comprise compounds of formula (I), to preparation of these compositions, and to the use of the compounds or compositions in agriculture or horticulture for combating, preventing or controlling animal pests, including arthropods and in particular insects, molluscs or representatives of the order Acarina.

##STR00001##

Compounds of the formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to agrochemical compositions which comprise compounds of formula (I), to preparation of these compositions, and to the use of the compounds or compositions in agriculture or horticulture for combating, preventing or controlling animal pests, including arthropods and in particular insects, molluscs or representatives of the order Acarina.

##STR00001##

An object of the present invention is to provide a pyridine N-oxide compound that is excellent in pest control activity, particularly, insecticidal activity and/or acaricidal activity, is excellent in safety, and may be industrially advantageously synthesized. The pyridine N-oxide compound of the present invention is a compound of the formula (II), a stereoisomer, tautomer or hydrate thereof or a salt of any of these compounds, wherein R.sup.1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkylsulfonyl group; R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkyl group, or the like; A.sup.1 represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or the like; A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 each independently represent a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom; X represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkoxy group, or the like; and n represents an integer of 0 to 2.

##STR00001##

An object of the present invention is to provide a pyridine N-oxide compound that is excellent in pest control activity, particularly, insecticidal activity and/or acaricidal activity, is excellent in safety, and may be industrially advantageously synthesized. The pyridine N-oxide compound of the present invention is a compound of the formula (II), a stereoisomer, tautomer or hydrate thereof or a salt of any of these compounds, wherein R.sup.1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkylsulfonyl group; R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkyl group, or the like; A.sup.1 represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or the like; A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 each independently represent a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom; X represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkoxy group, or the like; and n represents an integer of 0 to 2.

##STR00001##