The invention relates to cyclic depsipeptides, especially 18-membered cyclohexadepsipeptides of general formula (I) and the salts thereof, wherein R1 represents nitrobenzyl or R′R″N-benzyl—wherein R′ and R″ independently represent hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-C4-alkyl, formyl, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxycarbonyl, or hydroxy-C1-C2-alkyl-sulfonyl-C1-C2-alkyl, or, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound, R′ and R″ form an optionally substituted monocyclic or polycyclic, optionally bridged and/or spirocyclic, saturated or unsaturated heterocycle containing between one and three other heteroatoms from the group of nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur, or R′ and R″ together form C3-C5-alkylene monocarbonyl or an optionally substituted diacyl radical of a C4-C6-dicarboxylic acid—and R2, R3 and R4 independently represent C1-C4-alkyl. The invention also relates to the optical isomers and racemates of said cyclic depsipeptides, to a method for the production thereof, and to the use of the same for controlling endoparasites.