Despite increasing evidence for the importance of plant genetic variation in organizing insect communities, we know much less about particular plant genes and phenotypes that govern the community structure. Here, we conducted common garden experiments to monitor microarthropods on the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana in its native (Zürich, Switzerland) and exotic range (Otsu, Japan). We used 19 genotypes of A. thaliana to cover variation in plant trichomes (physical defense) and glucosinolates (chemical defense). First, we report significant heritability in species richness, total abundance, and Shannon diversity of insect communities on A. thaliana genotypes. Then, we provide field evidence for effects of trichomes on two prevalent herbivores (flea beetles at Zürich and sawflies at Otsu). Finally, based on the preliminary results, we will discuss future directions towards a genome-wide association study on the plant-insect interaction.