[Aim] Galectins (Gal), a family of lectins, are widely distributed in various organisms and play pivotal roles in many biological processes, including growth, development and immunity. In the present study, a galectin-coding gene was cloned and identified from Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Bx), and we analyzed its expression patterns in different developmental stages.[Method] Primers were designed to amplify the galectin-1 gene of in B. xylophilus, while the pET-28a vector and the target gene were ligated by double enzyme digestion, then transformed into Escherichia coli DH5α competent cells, and positive clones were screened. The expressioned galectin-1 protein was induced with isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) at various temperatures and Western blot was used to detect the expression of galectin-1 protein. Quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to analyse the expression of this gene in different developmental stages of B. xylophilus.[Result] The cDNA of BxGal was cloned (Gen Bank Gene ID:GU130138.1). SMART and PredictProtein softwares indicated that the BxGal had two CRDs and was mainly composed of random coils and β-sheets. Bioinformatics analysis showed that BxGal was more similar to that in the insect parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. The phylogenetic tree indicated that nematodes clustered well, compared to Schistosoma japonicum. Developmental expression profiles revealed that the expression level of BxGal was the highest in the dispersingal third-larval instar (L_Ⅲ larvae), and lower in propagative larval stages, dispersing fourth-larval stage(L_Ⅳ) and in the reproductive adult. There was no difference between activity in males vs. females.[Conclusion] The galectin-1 gene of B. xylophilus was soluble expressioned in the pET-28a prokaryotic expression system, and its expression level varied in the different developmental stages. This study provides the basis cornerstones for further research of the BxGal and provides a new direction for the control of B. xylophilus.