Abstract: The present invention describes compositions and methods that are useful in the control of lepidopteran insect pests, and more particularly describes nucleotide sequences for use in plants that encode full-length and truncated insecticidal toxins, as well as chimeric toxins. The nucleotide sequences of the present invention exhibit modifications that, when compared to the native sequences obtained from Bacillus thuringiensis species, make them particularly useful for enhanced, improved, and or optimized expression in monocot and dicot plant species. Using methods well known to those skilled in the art the nucleotide sequences described herein can be used to transform plant cells and plant tissue in order to produce transgenic plants that express the encoded proteins, therefore conferring upon the transgenic plants the ability to resist insect infestation.