Effect of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) assemblages following harvesting in central British Columbia

Increased anthropogenic impacts on natural ecosystems have intensified interest in detecting changes in affected areas’ natural ecology and native biodiversity. Many insect groups have been discussed as biological indicators for monitoring such impacts due to their abundance, ubiquity, and diversity. Being relatively taxonomically and ecologically well studied and easily sampled, carabids (Coleoptera: Carabidae) have received emphasis as a potential indicator group. Carabids and ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) may occupy overlapping guilds, however, and potential interactions of foraging ants and carabids may influence interpretation of disturbance effects on carabid assemblages. Using pitfall traps, we assessed the potential effects of ants, particularly Formica aserva Forel, on the abundance and species assemblages of carabids in central British Columbia. Inferences from these studies indicate that ants may play an important role in determining the composition and abundance of carabids.