Plant communities that colonize high-elevation zones generally have short growing seasons which lead

to specialized adaptations in such zones. In montane areas of Taiwan, Yushan bamboo (YB, Yushania

niitakayamensis) is dominant at elevations ranging from 2500 to 3300 m and grows in a grasslandlike

open habitat. In this study, hexapods were collected from YB bimonthly between 2009 and 2012 by

using a sweeping net. The composition of and several bioindices for the hexapods were determined, and

multivariate analyses were conducted to explore the dynamics and seasonal distribution of the hexapods.

A total of 32,000 individuals belonging to 11 orders and 113 families were collected, with adult individuals

being collected more frequently in warmer seasons (from June to October). Of the sampled individuals,

90% belonged to the orders Collembola (42%), Hemiptera (35%), and Hymenoptera (13%). The number

of individuals belonging to Hemiptera were stable in all seasons, and the number of hymenopteran

wasps was influenced by temperature and exhibited a stable dynamic pattern. The number of individuals

belonging to Collembola fluctuated dramatically. The multivariate analyses revealed that the collected

hexapods could be divided into two major family groups according to survey season (i.e., summer and

winter groups). Several families were collected only in summer, but a few were collected only in winter.

Eigenvalues obtained from a principal component analysis revealed that the families Chironomidae,

Delphacidae, Entomobryidae, Hypogastruridae, Sminthuridae, and Thripidae (all dominant) were the

major contributors to the winter group. These families were abundant all year, although some were more

abundant during winter. The three dominant orders Collembola, Hemiptera, and Hymenoptera, each of

which has a distinct community structure and dynamic pattern, may have their own adaptive mechanisms

in the subtropical regions of Taiwan. Hemiptera individuals, which feed on YB, were most abundant in

the adult stage in summer and in the nymphal stage in winter. The abundance of parasitic hymenopteran

wasps, which had stable dynamic patterns, was associated with that of their host insects and temperature.

The drastic fluctuations in the abundance of Collembola may have been caused by abiotic factors, such

as precipitation and microhabitat factors. The early onset of spring and the late onset of winter might also

affect the dynamics of the studied hexapods.