[Objectives]  To investigate the expression profile of the saliva protein BphMIF1 gene of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, an important insect pest of rice, in response to the feeding activity of this species. [Methods]  BphMIF1 was cloned by RT-PCR and sequenced for bioinformatic analysis. The expression levels of BphMIF1 in nymphs (1^st-5^th instars), adults and different adult body parts, were analyzed with real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR), and the prokaryotic expression of BphMIF1 was also quantified. [Results]  The BphMIF1 gene was cloned and found to encode 119 amino acids. qPCR results showed that BphMIF1 was rapidly up-regulated in 4^th instar nymphs. BphMIF1 was expressed in the head, thorax and abdomen of adults, but was most highly expressed in the abdomen. Prokaryotic expression analysis showed that the BphMIF1 gene was expressed at an induced concentration of 0.5 mmol/L IPTG for 4 h. [Conclusion]  The BphMIF1 gene is differentially expressed in different age groups and body parts of N. lugens. These results provide a theoretical basis for the functional study of BphMIF1 in response to the feeding process of N. lugens.