What term describes the stages or phases between molts in cockroaches?

The term that describes the stages or phases between molts in cockroaches is "instars." In entomology, an instar refers specifically to the development stage of an insect between two successive molts. As cockroaches grow, they go through several instars, each marked by a shedding of their exoskeleton, allowing for growth.

This is a critical concept in understanding insect development and life cycles. Instars are particularly important because they indicate the developmental progress of an insect, providing valuable information for pest control strategies. Recognizing the different instars of cockroaches can help pest control professionals determine the most effective methods and timings for application of control measures.

The other choices, while related to developmental processes in various biological contexts, do not accurately capture the specific stages of growth that occur between molts in cockroaches. For example, "stages" and "phases" are broader terms that can apply to various processes beyond just molting, and "cycles" often refers to larger biological cycles involving multiple life forms or environmental factors. Thus, "instars" is the precise term that signifies the specific intervals in the molting process of cockroaches.