Methods to select areas to survey for biological control agents: An example based on growth in relation to temperature and distribution of the weed Conyza bonariensis

•We develop a novel approach for prioritising surveys for biological control agents.•We modelled in CLIMEX the distribution of Conyza bonariensis, a S. American weed.•Model parameters were developed for a hypothetical biological control agent.•Areas in S. America were identified as suitable to survey for agents for Australia.