Interaction between habitat characteristics and insect diversity using ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) within a variety of agricultural habitats

Abstract

Heterogenous agroecosystems have the capacity to maintain high insect diversity despite alterations due to human activities. The distribution of carabid beetles and ants within a variety of habitat mosaics was monitored at two climatically distinct locations. Both insect Families were monitored to compare community similarities between habitats, within and between the two sampling locations. Species occurrences were significantly different between the two locations (p<0.05), with distinct patterns of distribution, resulting in high dissimilarity between locations and habitats sampled. While the lowveld had highest populations and diversity of both ants and carabid beetles in unmanaged habitats, the middleveld had high carabid beetle diversity in managed habitat and populations in unmanaged habitat, while ant populations and diversity were highest in an unmanaged habitat. Although the two locations had no carabid beetle species in common, they had a few ant species in common. Due to their abundance, diversity and relation to management, both insect Families have the potential to be used as indicators in the locations assessed..