Diapause
A period of suspended development in insects and some other organisms, typically triggered by environmental cues like day length. A pre-programmed pause that anticipates unfavorable conditions.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 2 chapters:
"...- Lay eggs, die - Lifespan: 6 weeks Generation 4 (September-November - "Super Generation"): - Hatch in Canada, but don't reproduce (reproductive diapause - reproductive organs don't develop) - Fly 3,000 miles to Mexico (same forest their great-great-grandparents left 8 months ago) - Overwinter dormant ..."
"...iance increases geometric mean even if arithmetic mean decreases. Bet-hedging appears across biology wherever cyclical unpredictability exists: - Diapause in insects (diapause: suspended development): Some eggs hatch immediately; others enter dormancy and hatch years later - Masting in trees: Fr..."
Biological Context
Monarch butterflies in their fall migration generation enter reproductive diapause—their reproductive organs don't develop until spring. This allows them to live 8 months instead of 2-4 weeks, enabling the long journey south. Diapause differs from torpor in being hormonally pre-programmed rather than a direct response to conditions.
Business Application
Strategic diapause: deliberately pausing growth initiatives during predictably unfavorable periods. Some businesses plan for seasonal slowdowns, using the pause to prepare for the next active phase rather than fighting unfavorable conditions.