Very few of us actually like bugs, but it can’t be denied that they’re some of the most interesting creatures on our planet!
Insects typically have varied and intriguing life cycles that are truly insightful to study. But how long do they live? Believe it or not, the answer can vary from just a few days to decades. That’s right, some bugs can live for years and years. Keep reading to find out which 5 insects have the longest lifespans of them all.
Understanding Insect Lifespans
Most insects are cold-blooded creatures and cannot survive winter months. It makes sense, then, that on average, bugs live for only a few weeks or months.
For example, mosquitoes and gnats live for only about a week, and houseflies for approximately one month. Silkworms live for an average of 6-8 weeks, and butterflies and moths only for a few days.
It’s important to know that the lifecycle of an insect plays a major role in how long the creature lives – their role in the social structure, reproduction, and whether or not they pupate, hibernate, molt, etc. all contribute to their overall longevity.
Sometimes, when all of these factors align, you end up with a particularly robust insect that hangs around on planet Earth for years on end. Here are the five insects with the longest lifespans.
1. Termites
The humble termite is an incredible pest, and you’re probably annoyed to see that these destructive creatures have made it on this list. In fact, termites are the insects with the longest lifespan of all – but there’s a catch.
While worker, soldier, and reproductive male termites only live for about 1-2 years on average, it’s their termite queen that outlives them all. Queen termites usually live for 10-20 years on average, and have been known to extend that range significantly, some reaching up to 50 years of life!
In that time, queens often lay over 300,000 eggs, keeping the colony alive and strong and continuing the cycle.
2. Cicadas
One of the noisiest bugs on this list is the cicada, which is actually a superfamily of around 3000 species of insects. They can grow to be quite large (up to 2 inches) and produce distinct sounds in order to communicate with one another.
Cicadas are insects that spend a large portion of their lives burrowed underground, in what is known as their nymphal stage (this happens right after they hatch). If undisturbed, cicadas can spend up to 17 years underground! Here, they feed on plant sap and mature until they’re ready to emerge.
In their final life cycle as winged adults, cicadas reproduce and then die within a few short weeks.
3. Queen Ants
Another bothersome queen who can’t help but overstay her welcome is an ant queen. Unlike the other members of her colon, who can live for only a few days to about a year, the queen has been known to stick around, laying eggs and controlling the ant colony for up to 15 years.
Being the only female who can lay eggs, the queen is necessarily stronger and lives longer to keep the colony alive and well. It is estimated that once mated, a queen ant can lay up to 1000 eggs a day, reaching thousands (and even hundreds of thousands) in her lifetime.
Of course, not all of those eggs will survive and hatch, and even fewer will live to maturity, but it’s an impressive number nonetheless!
4. Tarantulas
This may come as no surprise since so many people keep tarantulas as pets, and bonding with a creature that’s only going to live for a few weeks simply doesn’t make sense. However, you might be surprised to learn that male tarantulas can actually live for over 10 years, which is longer than the life expectancy of some dogs!
Even more surprising is that females often live for over 20 years in captivity (when properly cared for), making them one of the longest-living bugs on Earth by quite a margin and a long-term commitment spider to own as well.
However, this number will vary depending on which species of tarantula you’re looking at, as well as its general care, diet, environment, and other factors. Some types of spiders only live for 1-2 years, while other species stick around for much longer.
5. Beetles
Now, the term “beetle” is incredibly vague, as there are reportedly over 350,000 described species of beetle on Earth. While some of these live for only a few weeks before reproducing, raising their young, and dying off, others can live for years.
For example, Splendor Beetles are known to live for around 30 years, and some types of wood-boring beetles have lived for more than 50!
Typically, beetles (and other insects) who spend a part of their life cycle underground tend to live longer, as they’re well-protected when burrowed deep in the earth. Oftentimes, the latter stage of their life, which is spent above ground, is comparatively short.
Honorable Mentions
While bugs that live for more than 10 years are incredibly impressive, anything longer than about 1 year is a feat for such small creatures! There are some other insects that we think deserve to be recognized for their sturdiness and sheer determination to stay alive.
Slugs, as unappealing as they are, can live for a whopping 3 years – that is, if nobody decides to squish them underneath their boot. A Death’s Head Cockroach, with its terrifying name, can live for over 1 year, while a Hissing Cockroach can live for up to 5! Finally, a Honey Queen Bee typically lives for about 4 years if the climate is right and she isn’t challenged and overthrown by a virgin Queen.
