Tree-hole phytotelmata encompass the internodal water pools that form in many species of bamboo (Gramineae). Using bamboo traps, we sampled macroinvertebrate communities in a habitat within the subtropical cloud forest of Henri Pittier National Park, Rancho Grande, north-central Venezuela, and quantified the temporal differences in their abundance and composition. In total, 1024 invertebrates were collected during the 7 months between February and August 2008. The insect orders Diptera and Coleoptera were abundant, particularly Culex (Anoedioporpa) conservator Dyar & Knab, Culex (Culex) mollis (Dyar & Knab), Wyeomyia (Wyeomyia) arthrostigma (Lutz) and Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) theobaldi (Dyar & Knab). The traps also contained predators, detritivores and collectors (filtering and gathering). Macroinvertebrate abundance in the traps was higher during the rainy season. This observation was attributed to a greater abundance of Ephydridae, Blattaria and Culicidae during wetter months, and an increased availability of potential new breeding sites in the environment, which resulted in increased adult eclosion, and higher rates of oviposition in the bamboo traps. Temporal differences in pH and dissolved oxygen levels of trap water were observed.

Seven species of mosquitoes oviposited in open and bored bamboo traps at a site in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, the most prevalent being Aedes albopictus, Aedes novalbopictus and Armigeres subalbatus. These three species preferred to lay in open than in bored traps. Aedes albopictus and Ar. subalbatus preferred to lay at ground level but Ae. novalbopictus showed no preference between ground level, 3.5 and 7.0 m height. A comparison of two collection series, one with traps in fixed positions and the other with traps interchanged randomly with respect to the positions, showed that individual trap attractiveness is a factor that can have a marked influence on the overall oviposition trends in Ae. albopictus and Ar. subalbatus.

A study of oviposition with respect to height above the water level showed that in Ae. albopictus and Ar. subalbatus, more than 75% of the eggs were laid within about 16 mm of the waterline. However, there was a markedly greater dispersion of eggs in Ae. albopictus, indicating more vertical movement during oviposition in this species than in Ar. subalbatus.