NEW MATERIAL:The compound of formula I (R1 is phenyl which may be substituted with lower alkyl; R2 is H or lower alkyl; R3 is lower alkyl; X is O or methylene; Y is lower alkylene).

EXAMPLE: O-propyl-N-[2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)ethyl]hydroxylamine.

USE: An insecticide having excellent juvenile hormone activity and exhibiting extremely high controlling effect against insects of order Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, etc.

PREPARATION: The compound of formula I can be produced by reducing a compound of formula II (n is 2W4) with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst such as palladium-carbon or with a reducing agent such as sodium cyanoborohydride in a solvent such as methanol at a temperature between 0°C and the boiling point of the solvent.