Final answer:
Insects undergo a state called diapause to survive harsh conditions by pausing their development, which differs from torpor, hibernation, and metamorphosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many species of insects undergo a state of arrested development in their life cycle to avoid desiccation or cold, referred to as diapause. This is a strategy that allows them to survive in unfavorable environmental conditions. It's different from torpor, which is a short-term state of decreased physiological activity typically employed by animals on a daily basis or in response to cold temperatures, as seen in bats and hummingbirds. On the contrary, hibernation is a prolonged form of torpor that allows animals to survive cold conditions, while estivation is similar to hibernation but occurs in response to heat and aridity. It's important not to confuse diapause with metamorphosis, which is the physical transformation of an insect from one stage of its life cycle to another, such as from larva to adult form.