Quadratic-cubic flip criticality ($a+b^2$)

For $F_{\mu }(x)=\mu x+b{x}^2+a{x}^3$ near $\mu =-1$, write $\mu =-1+ϵ$. Then $F_{\mu }^2(x)-x=-2ϵx-2(a+b^2)x^3+O({ϵ}^{2}x,ϵx^2,x^4)$. The small two-cycle is attracting on $\mu <-1$ if $a+b^2>0$ and repelling on $\mu >-1$ if $a+b^2<0$. Vanishing of $a+b^2$ gives a degenerate flip requiring higher terms.