In the arid and semi-arid desert grasslands of Xinjiang, we chose Manas County as the study area due to its unique ecological characteristics and diverse surface arthropod populations. To collect surface arthropods effectively, we employed the pitfall trap method from May to September 2023 and April 2024, which allowed us to capture a wide range of specimens while minimizing disturbance to their natural environment. We conducted a thorough investigation into the composition of both ground vegetation and surface arthropod communities present in this area. This involved detailed field surveys where we documented plant species diversity alongside our surface arthropod captures. We analyzed the characteristics of these surface arthropod communities by examining factors such as abundance, richness, and evenness within each grassland type over time. Additionally, we focused on alterations in dominant species throughout different months; this temporal aspect provided insights into seasonal dynamics within these communities. To interpret the relationships between surface arthropod distribution patterns and environmental factors more comprehensively, we utilized Redundancy Analysis (RDA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). These statistical methods enabled us to identify significant correlations between abiotic variables such as temperature fluctuations and biotic responses observed in our collected data. The outcomes demonstrated that across three types of grassland located within Manas County, a total of 1986 individual surface arthropods were captured during our survey period. These specimens belonged to five families encompassing nine genera and nine distinct species. Tenebrionidae beetles dominated from April to July, but were replaced by Scarabaeidae in August, suggesting shifts in ecological interactions or resource availability during warmer months. Consequently, it is essential for future research efforts to enhance monitoring protocols specifically targeting Tenebrionidae and Scarabaeidae populations from April through August when their activity peaks are most pronounced. The composition of the surface arthropod community exhibited significant variation across different months. In April, the diversity of surface arthropods was markedly higher compared to other months. Conversely, the diversity of surface arthropod communities declined substantially in August, with evenness reaching its lowest level during this period. Relative humidity emerged as the primary driving factor influencing the temporal dynamics of the surface arthropod community. Overall, temperature served as the predominant factor affecting changes in surface arthropod communities across all grassland types. Additionally, the composition and structure of the surface arthropod community were influenced by other environmental factors, though the extent of their impact varied considerably among different grassland types. For example, in temperate desert steppe soil pH proved pivotal determining factor affecting local distribution; whereas relative humidity coupled with monthly rainfall exhibited the strongest correlation regarding population dynamics observed in temperate meadow steppe; finally concluding observations made at temperate steppe highlighted the importance attributed to maintaining adequate soil moisture levels necessary sustaining viable habitats conducive supporting thriving biodiversity therein.