Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided which employ a silencing element that, when ingested by a pest, such as a Coleopteran plant pest or a Diabrotica plant pest, decrease the expression of a target sequence in the pest. Disclosed are various target polynucleotides set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: disclosed herein, (but not including the forward and reverse primers.) or variants or fragments thereof, or complements thereof, wherein a decrease in expression of one or more of the sequences in the target pest controls the pest (i.e., has insecticidal activity). Plants, plant parts, bacteria and other host cells comprising the silencing elements, variants or fragments thereof, or complements thereof, are also provided.