Natural enemies associated with <i>Silybum marianum</i> (variegated thistle) and the potential for biocontrol

This dataset is provided as a supplementary material for the paper (entitled: Potential for biocontrol of <i>Silybum marianum</i> (variegated thistle): 1. Survey of natural enemies in New Zealand) published in New Zealand Entomologist, February 2024.<i>Silybum marianum</i> (L.) Gaertner (variegated thistle, milk thistle) is one of the worst weeds of hill country pasture in the east coast regions of New Zealand. As part of an initial investigation into the potential for biocontrol, a survey of the phytophagous insects associated with <i>S. marianum</i> in New Zealand was carried out at 16 populations from 29 November to 16 December 2021. Phytophagous associations were determined by collecting insects on the plant and by seedhead dissections. The species collected were grouped into three categories: ‘specialists’, ‘generalists’, and ‘tourists’ that comprised 27.4%, 66.3%, and 6.3% of the total number of specimens collected, respectively. The specialist group was almost entirely comprised of the seedhead weevil, <i>Rhinocyllus conicus</i> (Frölich). While adults of <i>R. conicus</i> were commonly collected on variegated thistle, only 6.5% of seedheads contained larvae of the weevil, indicating that <i>S. marianum</i> is not a common developmental host. Generalist species commonly collected on <i>S. marianum</i> included: <i>Nysius caledoniae</i> Distant, <i>Rhypodes clavicornis</i> (F.), <i>Closterotomus norwegicus</i> (Gmelin) and <i>Nezara virdula</i> (L.). Overall, the field surveys document low levels of attack from generalist herbivores and minimal attack by the specialist weevil, <i>R. conicus</i>. In the native range of Europe there are at least 41 insects and 12 fungi sufficiently specialised to be considered for biocontrol. Vacant niches are present on the weed in New Zealand, providing a strong case for introducing specialised biocontrol agents.本数据集作为2024年2月发表于《新西兰昆虫学家》的论文《水飞蓟（斑蓟）生防潜力：1. 新西兰天敌调查》的补充材料发布。水飞蓟（*Silybum marianum* (L.) Gaertner，俗称斑蓟、奶蓟）是新西兰东海岸区域山地牧场的主要恶性杂草之一。作为生防潜力初步研究的一部分，研究团队于2021年11月29日至12月16日期间，对新西兰境内16个水飞蓟种群的植食性昆虫开展了调查。植食性昆虫类群的确定通过野外植株昆虫采集与果序解剖两种方式完成。采集到的昆虫物种被划分为三类：专食性昆虫、广食性昆虫与偶访性昆虫，分别占总采集标本数的27.4%、66.3%与6.3%。专食性昆虫类群几乎全部由蓟实象鼻虫（*Rhinocyllus conicus* (Frölich)）构成。尽管斑蓟上常能采集到该象鼻虫的成虫，但仅有6.5%的果序携带其幼虫，这表明水飞蓟并非该象鼻虫的适宜发育寄主。于水飞蓟上采集到的常见广食性昆虫包括：喀里多尼亚长蝽（*Nysius caledoniae* Distant）、棒角异盲蝽（*Rhypodes clavicornis* (F.)）、挪威盲蝽（*Closterotomus norwegicus* (Gmelin)）以及稻绿蝽（*Nezara viridula* (L.)，原文存在拼写笔误，原拼写为virdula）。综合来看，本次野外调查显示广食性植食昆虫对该杂草的危害程度较低，专食性象鼻虫*R. conicus*的危害则更为轻微。该杂草的原生分布区欧洲境内，至少存在41种昆虫与12种真菌具备足够强的寄主专一性，可被纳入生防候选物种名录。新西兰境内的该杂草生境存在生态位空白，这为引入专食性生防天敌提供了充分依据。