Diapause
- Pronunciation
- /DYE-uh-pawz/
- Category
- Physiology
- Singular
- Diapause
- Plural
- Diapauses
Definition
A period of suspended or reduced metabolic activity in insects and other arthropods, typically occurring during adverse environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures or lack of food.
Etymology
From Greek 'dia-' meaning 'through' and 'pausis' meaning 'pause' or 'stop'.
Example
Many species of insects enter diapause to survive the winter months when food sources are scarce.
Synonyms
- Dormancy
- Hibernation
Related Terms
Usage Notes
Diapause is an adaptive strategy that can occur at various stages of the insect life cycle, including egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages.