Hibernation

Hibernation is the name given to a period of winter dormancy. During winter the cold weather can mean that temperatures are too low for ectothermic animals (like insects) to move around. Food may become scarce and even water might be difficult to access since much will be frozen.

Invertebrates have different strategies for overwintering. Some insects that you may encounter as they hibernate are ladybirds and Red Admiral butterflies as these often hibernate as adults within houses or garages.

A photograph of a Harlequin ladybird hibernating inside a house.

Related terms

• Aestivation
• Boxelder bug
• Diapause
• Ectothermic
• Ladybird

Related groups of terms

• General biology

Related pages on this web site

• Insect overwintering

See other words beginning with H