Diversity of ants (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) in organic and conventional Arabica coffee plantations in Aceh Tengah Regency, Sumatra, Indonesia

Several ant species are known as predators of coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei, the most damaging pest on coffee plantations. We investigated ant diversity and looked at their role in Arabica coffee plantation in Aceh Tengah Regency, Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. Ants were sampled four times between February and July 2020 using pitfall traps. We found 5 subfamilies and 17 morphospecies of ants collectively in organic and conventional plantations. Eight of them belonged to subfamily Myrmicinae, one species each for subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae and Formicinae, while others belonged to subfamily Ponerinae and Dolichoderinae. The slightly higher ant species composition in conventional coffee might have been caused by the fallen CBB infested berries on the ground that might attract more ant species to come. There was no significant different in each diversity indices calculated for both coffee cultivation, even though the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H') in the conventional coffee was relatively higher. Most of ant species were general foragers and some of them are known as predators of CBB. This study has provided important information regarding ant fauna in coffee plantations locally which is an early step to conserve ant species to be used as biological control agents of CBB.