Novel 4-phosphoryloxy-5-cyano-thiazoles of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 3 to 8 carbon atoms and benzyl optionally substituted with 1 to 2 members of the group consisting of halogen,methyl and methoxy, R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and alkoxy of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms and X and Z are individually selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur having particularly insecticidal properties but also acaricidal and nematocidal properties.