Diapause is a delay in an organism's development that occurs in response to regular, recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions, a physiological state with its own specific triggers and endpoints. It is widespread among arthropods, occurring at every life stage of many insects, and embryonic diapause also occurs in more than 130 mammal species and in the eggs of certain fish in the order Cyprinodontiformes. Diapause lets an organism survive predictable stresses such as temperature extremes, drought, or scarce food by conserving energy until conditions improve; some diapausing organisms, such as pupae and eggs, become completely immobile, while others, such as the monarch butterfly, stay active with reduced feeding and halted reproductive development.
Facts
PeriodicityRecurs in response to regular and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions 1 ScaleObserved in all life stages of arthropods, especially insects 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceMay involve moulting into a specific diapause stage or be accompanied by colour change 1 Sources
1. Wikipedia: Diapause
Introduction, opening definition
diapause is the delay in development in response to regular and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions
Introduction, taxonomic range
Diapause is observed in all the life stages of arthropods, especially insects.
Initiation
In some cases, this change may be very distinct and can involve moulting into a specific diapause stage, or be accompanied by color change.
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