How Old Do Ants Get?
WouterDepending on the species and environment, ants can live from a few weeks to decades. The lifespan of an ant is also dependent on its role in the colony. There are three major castes in an ant colony: workers, males, and females. Each caste has a different purpose within the colony.
Workers are the most numerous caste. They are the ones who store food, burrow tunnels, and defend the nest. These ants can live up to five years on average, although some species can live up to seven or eight years.
Queens are the egg-laying members of the colony. They have a much shorter lifespan than worker ants. They will usually live a few years in the wild, but can live for years in captivity. Some queens can lay millions of eggs in their lifetime.
Male ants are only useful for mating with the queen. After they mate, they die. Female ants can live for a few years, but only if they are not used to breeding.
Queen ants are the longest living members of the colony. These ants can live for several decades. They are responsible for the health of the colony, laying eggs, and spreading the colony’s population.
Male ants do not live very long. They are bred to produce more males for mating with the queen. Male ants only live for a few days to a week after they mate with a female ant. The ant pupae do not have antennae, but will darken in color with each pupation stage.
