Mixtures (C) for controlling animal pests comprise thiacloprid and a pyrethroid selected from acrinathrin, alpha -cypermethrin, beta -cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, delta -methrin, esfenvalerate, etofenprox, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, flucythrinate, lambda -cyhalothrin, permethrin, tau -fluvalinate, tralomethrin, zeta-cypermethrin, cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, cycloprothrin, eflusilanate, fubfenprox, pyrethrin, resmethrin or gamma -cyhalothrin. An independent claim is also included for controlling animal pests by allowing (C) to act on insect pests and/or their habitat. ACTIVITY : Insecticide; Arachnicide; Acaricide; Nematocide. In a test against Aphis gossypii on cotton plants, a combination of beta -cyfluthrin (0.12 ppm) and thiacloprid (0.6 ppm) gave 95% kill after 1 day, compared with a calculated value (Colby formula) of 38.25%. MECHANISM OF ACTION : None given.