Diapause offers the obvious benefit of enabling an insect to survive seasons that would otherwise be unsuitable for continuous development, but it usually comes at a cost. Costs may be reflected during the insect’s life or as reduced fitness in the progeny. Costs can include high mortality, depletion of energy reserves, low fecundity, delay in oviposition, shortened post-diapause longevity, and missed opportunities as a consequence of lost generations. Costs may differ between males and females, resulting in sex-specific trade-offs that may influence the timing of diapause entry. A few species, however, appear to have escaped obvious costs associated with diapause. Alternatives enable some insects to survive without diapause. These include entering quiescence (a dormant state readily entered and exited in direct response to prevailing conditions), cold hardening without diapause, extending the life cycle without diapause, seeking a favorable environment, and remaining winter-active.