Data used in the first comprehensive catalogue of hibernating Darwin wasps in the Western Palaearctic (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae)

This catalogue presents a comprehensive dataset compiled from four primary sources: published literature (44%), citizen-science portals (34%), unpublished authors' original records (19%), and public or private collections (3%). Strict inclusion criteria were applied, requiring explicit evidence of hibernation—such as specimen labels or photographic proof—rather than relying solely on collection dates. The geographical scope covers various European nations, with temporal data extending from historical records dating back to 1790 through April 2025. To ensure data integrity, the authors verified all citizen-science observations and scrutinized older literature to resolve issues regarding shifting nomenclature, uncertain georeferencing, and redundant citations. Finally, "bulk reports" were decomposed into individual occurrences where possible to provide a more granular and reliable catalogue for studying hibernating species.