The 5 longest queens living insects on Earth are typical species of termites and certain types of ants. These social insects have relatively long lifespans compared to other insects due to their specialized roles within their colonies. Here are a few examples:
1. Queens of Termite Species (Macrotermes bellicosus): The queen termite of this species can live for several decades, with some estimates suggesting lifespans of up to 50 years or more. The exact lifespan can vary depending on environmental conditions and other factors.
Macrotermes bellicosus is a Macrotermes species. The queens are the biggest termite species, measuring around 4.2 inches (110 mm) when physogastric. On average, workers are 0.14 in (3.6 mm) long, whereas soldiers are somewhat bigger. Latin for “combative” is bellicosus. The species belongs to a genus native to Africa and Southeast Asia.
2. Queens of Ant Species (Camponotus): Certain species of carpenter ants, like Camponotus pennsylvanicus, have queens that can live for 20 years or more. Again, the specific lifespan can vary between species.
Camponotus is a massive, complex, and widely dispersed genus. At the moment, more than 1000 species and over 500 subspecies belonging to 45 subgenera have been reported , making it the biggest ant genus in the world. Camponotus’ taxonomy is one of the most complicated and challenging due to its great species diversity, high levels of intraspecific and regional variation, and polymorphism.
3. Queens of Leafcutter Ants (Atta and Acromyrmex): Leafcutter ant queens can live for over 15 years. These ants are known for their complex and organized societies, contributing to their longer lifespans.
Leafcutter ants are any of the 47 species of leaf-chewing ants from the two genera Atta and Acromyrmex. These fungus-eating ants are indigenous to South and Central America, Mexico, and sections of the southern United States. Leafcutter ants can carry twenty times their body weight, and they cut and digest fresh foliage (leaves, flowers, and grasses) to feed their fungal cultivates.
4. Queen Honeybees (Apis mellifera): The queen honeybee typically lives for 2 to 5 years, which is significantly longer than the lifespan of worker bees or drones.
A queen bee is an adult, mated female (gyne) who lives in a honey bee colony or hive. The queen, with fully developed reproductive organs, is generally the mother of the majority of the bees in the colony, if not all. Queens are created from larvae chosen by worker bees and are particularly nourished in order to reach sexual maturity. When there is just one mature, mated queen in a hive, the bees will generally follow and aggressively protect her.
5. Giant Mesquite Bug (Thasus neocalifornicus): This large insect in North America can sometimes live for up to 10 years.
It’s important to note that lifespans can vary based on factors such as the insect’s role within its colony, environmental conditions, and other factors. The examples provided here are some of the longest-lived insects known, but other species with similarly long lifespans may not have been extensively studied or documented.
The enormous mesquite bug (Thasus neocalifornicus) is a Hemiptera (or “true bugs”) insect. It is a leaf-footed insect that belongs to the Coreidae family. As the popular name indicates, it is a huge insect that feeds on mesquite trees in the American Southwest and Northwestern Mexico.
Bottom Line
5 longest queens living Insects on Earth are determined by these factors, and insect lifespans can be influenced by various factors, including species, environmental conditions, and individual health.