Preliminary results of the scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorryncha) exploration from West Halmahera, in the Eastern Weber line of Wallacea

Abstract

Exploration of scale insects was done in West Halmahera, North Maluku, from May to June 2022 using purposive sampling as many 7,261 individual scale insects, which consist of six families, were collected. Basic information was recorded, such as pictures of insects, host plants, and GPS coordinates. Identification to species level is still ongoing by morphological characters using slide mounting specimens and the mtCO-I DNA sequencing. It is expected to have several new reports on insect species, host plants, and possibly new species. The information will enrich the record of fauna diversity in Indonesia and be useful for agriculture, especially in pest management.