ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses specific traits of diapause and associated phenomena in pentatomids and includes rare examples from other families of Pentatomoidea. To survive under conditions of the annual rhythm of climate and to cope with seasonal changes of the environment, insects, as with other living organisms, need special seasonal adaptations. Insect diapause often is associated with winter and, in these cases, is called winter diapause, or hibernation. The ecological importance of dormancy during summer might be related to survival of extremely high temperatures and dry conditions. In some other cases, summer diapause also is important for survival during a rainy season or a period when food is too scarce. Several abiotic and biotic factors that have regular rhythmicity in nature can be used by insects as signals for synchronization of their seasonal development with environmental conditions. The interaction of photoperiod and temperature creates a reliable ecological mechanism controlling the timely onset of diapause in a particular season.
