The complete genome sequence of the first hesperiid-infecting alphabaculovirus isolated from the leguminous pest Urbanus proteus (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae).

•We sequenced a novel baculovirus isolated from the leguminous pest Urbanus proteus.•Urbanus proteus nucleopolyhedrovirus (UrprNPV) is a distinct Alphabaculovirus.•It presents the smallest genome among alphabaculovirus with high genetic diversity.•Adoxophyes-isolated baculoviruses are the closest relatives forming a distinct virus lineage.