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The brown planthopper, <i>Nilaparvata lugens</i>, is a difficult-to-control insect pest affecting rice yields in Asia. As a structural component of the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI), the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain (ITIH) has been reported to be involved in various inflammatory or malignant disorders, ovarian development, and ovulation. To reveal the function of ITIH4 in <i>N. lugens</i>, the gene encoding <i>N. lugens</i> ITIH4 (<i>NlITIH4</i>) was cloned and characterized. <i>Nl</i>ITIH4 contains a signal peptide, a vault protein inter-alpha-trypsin domain, and a von Willebrand factor type A domain. qPCR analysis showed that <i>NlITIH4</i> was expressed at all developmental stages and in all tissues (fat body, ovary, and gut), with the highest expression in the fat body. Double stranded <i>NlITIH4</i> (ds<i>NlITIH4</i>) injection clearly led to an RNAi-mediated inhibition of the expression of <i>NlITIH4</i> and resulted in reduced survival, delayed ovarian development, and reduced egg production and egg hatching. These results indicate that <i>NlITIH4</i> plays an important role in the development and reproduction of <i>N. lugens</i>.