Laboratory assays explored the potential of nitenpyram, a novel neonicotinoid insecticide developed by Takeda Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. against the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Homoptera: Delphacidae). All nymphal instars were sensitive to nitenpyram with the first and second instars being the most susceptible (median lethal concentrations [LC50] of 0.14 mg/L at 72 h after treatment). Fifth-instar nymphs were the least susceptible. Mortality of first - second instars treated with 2 mg/L peaked at 48 h after treatment. The five concentrations of nitenpyram tested (2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125 mg/L) decreased the weight of brown planthopper nymphs following treatment with the insecticide. These laboratory results indicate that nitenpyram may prove to be an effective alternative for the control of brown planthopper in rice culture.