How Long Do Ants Survive Without Food?
WouterConsidering the great survival instincts of ants, how long do ants survive without food? Several species of ants are able to live for weeks, months, or even years without food. They are able to survive this way because they rely on their bodies’ fat reserves to stay alive.
The lifespan of ants depends on several factors, including their social structure, sex, and caste. In most cases, the average ant worker can survive for a few months, while the queen can live for up to three years.
The queen of an ant colony is responsible for the health of the colony. She stores food in her body and uses it when food is scarce. When she is no longer able to feed her workers, she will start dying.
If there is no food in the colony for an extended period of time, ants will resort to cannibalism. This is when they will try to eat everything in the colony. After this, they will lay down and stop moving.
In some cases, ants can survive for a couple of weeks without food, but they will ultimately die. The longest known ant queen lived for over 20 years.
Ants will build colonies to store food. In groups, ants can find more food and be able to survive longer.
Besides food, water is another essential commodity for ants. They can extract water from the ground or food sources, and they can also survive for several days under water.
