I’ve often wondered the same thing. If we step on a bug, do they experience instant death, or do they have a long agony? (Which is why I usually scoop them up and toss them out the door.)
We lived in the country for 25 years and had lots of ‘visitors.’ Our cat used to enjoy cricket chases when one got into closets. Then wife and I got into it and it turned out to be fun. Somewhere we found a small screened bug cup and cap. Was easier to catch them and put them out. Saved us from having to use poisons and also helped with wasps and biters and . Even the cat didn’t mess with those.
The life cycle of the ant has four stages, including egg, larva, pupa, and adult, and spans a period of 8 to 10 weeks. The queen spends her life laying eggs.
The male dies soon after mating — got nothing else to live for, and the fertilized queen establishes a new nest.
https://www.britannica.com/animal/ant
The lifespan of Fire ant workers depend on their size. Minor workers may live 30 to 60 days, media workers 60 to 90 days, major workers 90 to 180 days, and queens may live two to six years. Complete lifecycle from egg to adult takes between 22 and 38 days.
Certain queen ants can live decades instead of the mere weeks or months of other ants. Pharaoh ants, also called “sugar ants,” have relatively short lives. Their queens live approximately a year, and workers live for 70 days or so, according to Texas A&M; University’s website.
Those are assorted lifespans, BC ants are different and not bound by our timescales.
The Pro from Dover over 7 years ago
Developers! Destroying lives one home at a time.
donut reply over 7 years ago
So they beat out mayflys on short lives, right.
Dani Rice over 7 years ago
I’ve often wondered the same thing. If we step on a bug, do they experience instant death, or do they have a long agony? (Which is why I usually scoop them up and toss them out the door.)
sandpiper over 7 years ago
We lived in the country for 25 years and had lots of ‘visitors.’ Our cat used to enjoy cricket chases when one got into closets. Then wife and I got into it and it turned out to be fun. Somewhere we found a small screened bug cup and cap. Was easier to catch them and put them out. Saved us from having to use poisons and also helped with wasps and biters and . Even the cat didn’t mess with those.
JPuzzleWhiz over 7 years ago
“Well, there goes the neighborhood!”
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 7 years ago
The life cycle of the ant has four stages, including egg, larva, pupa, and adult, and spans a period of 8 to 10 weeks. The queen spends her life laying eggs.
The male dies soon after mating — got nothing else to live for, and the fertilized queen establishes a new nest.
https://www.britannica.com/animal/ant
The lifespan of Fire ant workers depend on their size. Minor workers may live 30 to 60 days, media workers 60 to 90 days, major workers 90 to 180 days, and queens may live two to six years. Complete lifecycle from egg to adult takes between 22 and 38 days.
Certain queen ants can live decades instead of the mere weeks or months of other ants. Pharaoh ants, also called “sugar ants,” have relatively short lives. Their queens live approximately a year, and workers live for 70 days or so, according to Texas A&M; University’s website.
Those are assorted lifespans, BC ants are different and not bound by our timescales.