Heterocyclically substituted methyl alpha -arylacrylates of the general formula in which R represents alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, halogen or aryl, where the aromatic ring is optionally substituted, Het represents a radical optionally substituted five-membered heterocyclyl having 1 to 3 hetero atoms, A represents ethenylene, ethylene, methyleneoxy or methylenethio, and fungicides and pesticides containing these compounds.