A dataset of pest lists for major grain, cotton, and oil crops in China

Crop insect pests pose a major biological threat to global food security and agricultural sustainability. In China, insect pests affecting key grain, cotton, and oil crops (including rice, wheat, maize, cotton, rapeseed and soybean) were characterized by their high species diversity, wide geographical distribution, severe damage potential and complex control requirements. However, existing research had predominantly focused on single crops or localized monitoring and there was a lack of systematic electronic data resources on crop pests on a national scale. To clarify the current status of pests in China's major grain, cotton and oil crops, this study employed a literature review approach, compiling and integrating pest records from plant protection publications and authoritative works spanning 1979 to 2024. A comprehensive data set of crop pests was created through multiple source data screening, standardization and quality control, encompassing 512 pest species: 196 on rice, 51 on wheat, 54 on maize, 103 on cotton, 39 on canola and 69 on soybeans. The dataset included 16 attributes for each pest species, such as Chinese/common name, Latin scientific name, geographic distribution, host crops, damage symptoms, and control methods, reflecting species diversity, spatial patterns and management strategies. The dataset was stored in Excel format (file size: 316 KB) for accessibility and practical use. This electronic resource provided fundamental data for pest monitoring, early warning systems and resistance management analysis. It also supported training of pest image recognition models, optimization of integrated pest management strategies, and policy-making for agricultural sustainability, thereby bridging scientific research and field-level pest control practices.