These bugs will live practically forever!

These bugs are practically immortal!

When it comes to bugs, there is no average lifespan. Some bugs live only a few hours, while others can live into their teens. In general, insects have a short lifespan, but some can live into their teens.

You may be more familiar with bugs with shorter lifespans. Mosquitoes and gnats live for about a week. Houseflies live for about 28 days. Mayflies are the insects with the shortest lifespan on Earth, living for just 24 hours. This may sound like good news to those who don't like bugs, but not all insects have short lifespans.

Rather than living fast and dying young, these insects have found the secret to longevity. Learn about these (almost) immortal creatures, and keep an eye out for them—you may run into one in your lifetime.

Meet the world's longest-living bugs

Termite Queen: 50+ Years

The termite queen is the heart of the colony, laying up to 30,000 eggs a day, which grows over time. Without her, the colony can't survive. With such an important role, it’s no surprise that the termite queen is known as the longest-lived insect, and they typically live for 25 to 50 years. That’s about 500 times longer than male termites and 10 times longer than worker ants. Some scientists even believe that termite queens can even live up to 100 years!

Queen: 30 Years

The queen is the largest member of the colony and, like the termite queen, is responsible for the growth of the colony. Male ants only live for a few weeks, while workers can live for one to three years. But the queen? She can live for up to 30 years, ensuring the colony thrives.

Painted Beetle: 25 - 30 Years

The painted beetle is an invasive species notorious for devastating oak tree populations. These destructive insects can live up to 30 years. If there’s anything good about it, it’s that they only lay five to six eggs at a time, and a generation takes two years to develop.

Cicadas: 17 Years

Cicadas are well known for their summer songs, but they also deserve a mention for their impressive lifespans—17 years, to be exact. To be fair, not all species live that long. Annual cicadas live for about four years, while periodical cicadas live the longest, spending most of their lives underground.

Wolf Spiders: 7 - 36 Years

If spiders give you the chills, you might not like to hear this, but wolf spiders can live a very long time. For the common brown wolf spider, male wolf spiders live between 7 and 12 years, while females can live up to 36 years in captivity when properly cared for. Their uniquely long lifespans are one of the reasons they are a top choice for pet owners who love exotic creatures.

Praying Mantises: 1 - 2 Years

While praying mantises don't live as long as some of the other insects on this list, they still live longer than many others. Known for their excellent hunting skills and unique posture, these insects are useful predators that play an important role in keeping insect populations in check. Typically, they live about a year in the wild, but in captivity, some species can live up to two years.

Wolf Spider Hawk: 1 Year

Despite their name, wolf spider hawks are not spiders or birds—they are one of the insect world’s most stinging wasps. These brightly colored wasps have blue and black bodies with bright orange wings. Even with their bright colors, wolf spider hawks can live up to a year. That’s bad news for wolf spiders, whose longevity may be cut short, as wolf spider hawks are known for hunting these large, furry spiders.

Emperor Scorpion: 6-8 Years

One of the longest-lived scorpion species, the emperor scorpion can live up to eight years in the wild. These large, shiny black scorpions are often kept as pets due to their relatively docile nature. They rely more on their powerful pincers than their stingers when hunting, making them less threatening to humans. However, if you see an emperor scorpion in the wild, it’s best to admire it from a distance!