The invention relates to the use of selective insecticides for controlling insects and/or arachnids. Said selective insecticides are characterized by an active moiety of an active substance combination comprising: (a) (1) at least one haloalkylnicotinic acid derivative of formula (I), wherein AA and R1A have the meanings indicated in the description, or (2) at least one phthalic acid diamine of formula (II), wherein XB, R1B, R2B, R3B, L1B, L2B, and L3B have the meanings indicated in the description, or (3) at least one anthranilic acid amide of formula (III), wherein A1C, A2C, XC, R1C, R2C, R3C, R4C, R5C, R7C, R8C, and R9C have the meanings indicated in the description, and (b) at least one compound that improves crop plant tolerance and is part of the group of compounds indicated in the description, especially cloquintocet-mexyl, isoxadifen-ethyl, and mefenpyr-diethyl. Also disclosed is a method for controlling insects and/or arachnids using the inventive insecticides.