Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) ORF5 (Bm5) is a gene present in many lepidopteran nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs), but its function is unknown. In this study, Bm5 was characterized. The transcript of Bm5 was detected 12-72 h post infection (p.i.). Polyclonal antiserum raised to a His-BM5 fusion protein recognized BM5 in infected cell lysates from 24 to 72 h p.i., suggesting that Bm5 is a late gene. Immunofluorescence analysis by confocal microscopy showed that the BM5 protein is localized primarily in the cytoplasm. Localization of BM5 in budded virion (BV) and occlusion-derived virion (ODV) by Western analyses demonstrated that BM5 is not a structural protein associated with BV or ODV.