How Long Do Common Ants Live?
Depending on the species, the average ant lifespan can range from a few weeks to several months. Other species have life spans of years. A colony’s lifespan depends on a number of factors, such as the size of the colony, the amount of food the colony produces and the number of ants in the colony.
Ants can live for a long time, but they can also be eaten by many types of predators. Predators include snakes, birds, spiders and fish. Some ants also fall prey to larger animals such as coyotes and bears.
The life cycle of ants starts in the larval stage. During this phase, the ants begin to forage for food to feed the colony. The ants will then move directly to the adult stage. This stage does not include a juvenile stage, but will be a lighter color than the common black ants. Ants will breathe through holes in their bodies, known as spiracles.
Then the worker ants leave the nest to forage for food to feed the colony. These ants are the ones who perform most of the work to maintain the colony. They also find the nest by following a scent trail left by other ants.
The lifespan of worker ants can vary from a few weeks to several months. Some species can also survive for several months without food.
The lifespan of queens can range from 5 to 15 years. Queens are typically the most long-lived members of ant colonies.