Characterising insect diversity on Australia's remnant native grasslands: ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and beetles (Coleoptera) at Craigieburn Grasslands Reserve, Victoria

Ants and beetles sampled by pitfall trapping on a large grassland remnant near Melbourne, Victoria, are enumerated and discussed. Species richness of both groups differed little between grassy flat areas and more rocky knolls, or between early and late summer. Seasonal differences in abundance were found in both taxa: beetles were more abundant in early summer, and ants more abundant in late summer. Implications of such differences for rapid sampling of grassland insects in the region are discussed.