This invention provides modified, insecticidal Cry34 proteins with enhanced properties as compared to wild-type Cry34 proteins. The modifications to these proteins were based in part on an analysis of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of this protein and other proteins in the Cry34 class. The subject invention also includes polynucleotides that encode these modified proteins, and transgenic plants that produce these modified proteins. This invention further provides methods of controlling plant pests, including rootworms, with these modified proteins. The modified proteins of the subject invention include chimeric toxins involving exchanged segments, domains, and motifs as discussed herein. The subject invention also provides methods of modifying Cry34 proteins.