The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding .delta.-endotoxins having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, expression cassettes, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the invention. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests.