<![CDATA[Soil surface insects are an important component of agricultural ecosystems; however, their taxonomic composition in maize agroecosystems can vary depending on habitat conditions and sampling methods. This study aimed to invent the taxonomic composition and evaluate the diversity of soil surface insects in a maize field in Tegal Besar, Jember Regency, East Java, Indonesia. Sampling was conducted in May 2023 using five pitfall traps placed within an area of approximately 300 m². The traps were checked every two days over five sampling periods. Collected specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol and identified based on morphological characteristics. A total of 131 individuals were recorded, representing four orders, six families, and ten subfamilies. Hymenoptera was the order with the highest number of specimens (62 individuals; 47.3%), followed by Orthoptera (44; 33.6%), Coleoptera (24; 18.3%), and Hemiptera (1; 0.8%). The Shannon diversity index, calculated based on the combined abundance at the subfamily level, was H’=1.9876. These results provide baseline information on the taxonomic composition and diversity of soil surface insects captured in the maize agroecosystem at the study site. However, as this study was limited to a single field and utilized only pitfall traps, the findings do not represent the entire insect community within the agroecosystem. Surveys covering more locations and seasons, incorporating complementary sampling methods and measurements of environmental factors, are necessary to gain a more representative understanding of the diversity patterns of soil surface insects in maize agroecosystems. ]]>
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