A 3-aryl-pyrrolidine-2,4-dione (e) derivative of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which X represents alkyl, halogen and alkoxy,Y represents hydrogen, alkyl, halogen, alkoxy and halogenoalkyl,Z represents alkyl, halogen and alkoxy,m represents a number from 1-4,n represents a number from 0-3, R represents hydrogen, ##STR2## or A where A represents a metal cation equivalent or represents an ammonium ion,R.sup.1 represents optionally halogen-substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkylthioalkyl, polyalkoxyalkyl and optionally substituted cycloalkyl which can be interrupted by hetero atoms, or represents optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted phenylalkyl, substituted hetaryl, substituted phenoxyalkyl and substituted hetaryloxyalkyl andR.sup.2 represents optionally halogen-substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkoxyalkyl, polyalkoxyalkyl and optionally substituted phenyl,as well as the pure enantiomeric forms of compounds of the formula (I). The compounds of formula (I) are effective as insecticidal, acaricidal, herbicidal and antimycotic agents.