Aestivation

Aestivation is the name given to a period of summer dormancy. Summer dormancy is often exhibited by animals when conditions become unfavourable.

For example, should summer temperatures fall below a specific threshold an insect might aestivate in its pupal state rather than emerge. Other examples include land crabs aestivating in their burrows to avoid a summer drought. 

Other names for (or types of) Aestivation include:

• Estivation
• Summer dormancy

Related terms

• Diapause
• Hibernation

Related groups of terms

• General biology
• Insect life cycles

Related pages on this web site

• Insect life cycles

See other words beginning with A