Insecticidal heterocyclic compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein A represents a five-membered or six-membered heteroaryl group containing one to three hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of S, O and N, said heteroaryl group being unsubstituted or substituted by a halogen atom or C.sub.1-4 alkyl group, Z represents a three-membered straight chain, each member being selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.2 --, O, S and N--R.sup.2 with at least one of said three members being O, S or N--R.sup.2, E represents CH.sub.2, O, S or N--R.sup.2 wherein R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group, a C.sub.1-4 alkoxy group or the group ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or halogen atom, X represents CH or N, Y represents a nitro group or cyano group, and R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or methyl group.