Question

Give an example of an organism that enters 'diapause' and why?

Answer 1

Diapause is a period of suspended development in an insect, another invertebrate, or mammal embryo, especially during unfavourable environmental conditions. The organism that enters diapause is silk moth or Bombyx mori. It enters into diapause due to some adverse environmental conditions such as drought, extreme temperature, reduced food availability; which, in turn, delays the overall development. The physiological and metabolic activities are also diminished at this particular time. Thus, it is a type of survival mechanism exhibited by the insect at the time of adversity.