Benzyl phenyl ethers, many of which are new, of the formula ##STR1## in which X is ##STR2## R.sup.1 is H or alkyl, R.sup.2 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylidene, alkenylidene or alkynylidene optionally substituted by OH, alkoxy, a heterocyclic group containing O, S or N, amino, monoalkylamino, dialkylamino or by an alkylene bridge with 5 carbon atoms,R.sup.3 each independently is H, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylmercapto, halogen, halogenoalkyl, halogenoalkoxy, halogenoalkylmercapto, NO.sub.2, amino, monoalkylamino or dialkylamino,R.sup.4 each independently is H, halogen or alkoxy,m is an integer from 1 to 5, andn is an integer from 1 to 4,and acid addition salts thereof, are useful for combatting arthropods, nematodes, fungi and bacteria.