What are the distinct phases of growth for plants and insects referred to as?

The distinct phases of growth for plants and insects are referred to as life cycles. This term encompasses all the stages an organism goes through from the beginning of its life until its reproduction, including growth and developmental changes. For plants, this might include phases such as germination, vegetative growth, flowering, and seed production. In insects, life cycles typically include stages like egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

While "developmental stages" may seem related, it specifically focuses on the maturation process that an organism undergoes, without fully capturing the cyclical nature of growth and reproduction that "life cycles" implies. The term "biological cycles" is broader and can refer to various processes in biology but does not specifically denote the growth phases of individual organisms. "Growth patterns," while they can describe the way organisms grow over time, do not adequately convey the comprehensive concept of the complete life cycle that includes reproduction and the transition between stages. Hence, "life cycles" is the most accurate term for describing these distinct phases.