Non-infectious diseases of humans have become a primary emphasis of human health since the medical revolution brought about by the introduction of antibiotics. Non-infectious diseases of insects, both natural and human induced, are undoubtedly a major influence on insect fitness and survival but researchers seldom communicate their findings from that perspective. One possible reason is that the current paradigm is not sufficiently developed to facilitate inter- and intra-disciplinary dialogue. Non-infectious diseases broadly cover mechanical, chemical and physical injuries and nutritional, genetic and neoplastic diseases. Included within this context are lethal and sub-lethal influences of chemical intoxication and abiotic stress from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Exploring the effects of cold stress on insects could provide a useful model for strengthening this sub-discipline of insect pathology. The response of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and members of the Pseudoscymnus tsugae/hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) predator/prey complex can be used to illustrate several levels of scale and allow analogies to be drawn with the infectious disease paradigm. For instance, unusually cold weather could cause widespread mortality and severe reductions in insect populations analogous to an epizootic caused by insect-killing fungi. Furthermore, survivors of sub-lethal exposure to cold could have reduced fecundity and/or other pathological changes that alter their individual fitness or success at the population level. A windfall of research tools and theoretical progress is likely as various disciplines, such as pathology, toxicology, physiology and ecology, etc., gain a similar framework for approaching areas of inquiry related to non-infectious disease.