Novel nucleic acid sequences isolated from Xenorhabdus nematophilus, Xenorhabdus poinarii, and Photorhabdus luminescens, whose expression results in novel insecticidal toxins, are disclosed herein. The invention also discloses compositions and formulations containing the insecticidal toxins that are capable of controlling insect pests. The invention is further drawn to methods of making the toxins and to methods of using the nucleotide sequences, for example in microorganisms to control insect pests or in transgenic plants to confer insect resistance.