How Long Ants Live Without a Queen
WouterHaving a queen can be very important to an ant colony’s survival. But what happens when a queen dies? There are many factors that play a role in determining how long ants live without a queen. Some species can live only for a few weeks, while others can live for years. The lifespan of ants is determined by the species of ant, their location, and their role in the colony.
Queens are the egg-layers in an ant colony. They are large and have wings. When a colony is stable, they can live for many years. In some cases, the queen can live to be over 28 years old. During this time, she can create more queens to spread the ant population. Eventually, the colony will cease to exist.
Without a queen, the colony will not reproduce. It will become vulnerable to attack, or die out. Workers will continue to carry out the same functions, but without a queen to guide them. Without food or a replacement queen, the colony will eventually die out. The lifespan of ants is determined by a number of factors, such as the food source and the number of workers.
In some ant species, the queen can live as long as 15 years. In others, the worker ants can live up to seven years. A colony with a large number of workers can survive for years, while a colony with a small number of workers may die out after a few weeks.
