InsectGUILD: feeding guilds of lepidopteran and hymenopteran larvae consuming Northern Hemisphere woody plants

The InsectGUILD dataset is an online data resource that compiles traits related to the feeding ecology and phenology for phytophagous butterflies, moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) and sawflies (Insecta: Hymenoptera). We present traits on larval feeding guild (set of species that exploit the same type of resources in a similar way), larval host plant specificity (trophic specialisation) and voltinism (number of generations in a year) for a total of 4,818 species of the Lepidoptera in 84 families and 109 species of the Hymenoptera in 9 families. The lepidopteran and hymenopteran species subject of this collection have been recorded as feeders on dominant woody flora from the Northern Hemisphere. Features presented here are derived from online databases, field guides, and other literature resources. The InsectGUILD dataset resolves part of the data gap on large-scale insects' feeding strategies in relation to host plants. By making these data freely available, we aim to provide an important data source for trait-based analyses exploring different research questions on interactions between insect herbivores and their associated host plant(s).