【Background】Tirathaba rufivena Walker is one of the important lepidopteran pests in Areca catechu L., and its damage has increased recently. 【Method】In order to detect the effect of nicotine on the development and survival of T.rufivena, eggs were dipped, and larvae were fed with diet containing various concentrations of nicotine to describe the biological activity on eggs, larvae, pupae. 【Result】Nicotine showed bio-activities against all larval instars of T.rufivena, but the sensitivity was gradually reduced during larval development. The LC25, LC50 and LC90 values for 5th instar larvae were 5.13 mg·L-1, 20.69 mg·L-1 and 292.10 mg·L-1, respectively; the development of larvae and pupae was delayed. Nicotine also reduced egg hatchability and the survival newly hatched larvae. Egg hatchability did not differ between treatments with LC25 and LC50 doses, but the LC90 treatment caused lower egg hatch. The pupation and emergence rates were also decreased; at LC90, they were 18.89% and 15.56%, respectively, both significantly lower than those in the control group. 【Conclusion and significance】As an important botanical pesticide, nicotine showed strong negative effects on the development and survival of T.rufivena, and may be used as reference in pesticide development.