One complete life cycle consists from egg stage to an adult stage. Most species complete one life cycle or generation per year, they are called univoltine. If they complete more than one life cycle per year they are multivoltine.

Univoltine: Overwintering stage is usually cold hardy and is in diapause, a state of very low metabolism.

Multivoltine: Some carry on generations throughout the year without interrupting if conditions are favorable, in others one generation goes in diapause.

Insect tolerance to Adverse conditions

Most individuals die young because they have limited tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. Conditions are rarely optimal for insect growth during the beginning of the growing season.

Minimum requirements: -food
                                     -Space, especially for ovipositing and overwintering

Maximum Requirements: - Maximum levels of infection by pathogens
                                        - Maximum tolerance for resources among members of a species

Both Minimum and Maximum: - Temperature
                                              - Light (intensity and number of hours)
                                              - Humidity (water)
                                              - pH