What insect's queen can live for over 50 years, the longest of any insect?

The queen termite can live for over 50 years, giving termites the longest known insect lifespan. Unlike worker termites, the queen is a reproductive specialist whose main role is producing eggs for the colony.

A termite queen begins life as a winged reproductive, but after founding or joining a colony, her abdomen can enlarge dramatically—a condition called physogastrism. Workers feed, groom, and protect her while the king remains with her and continues mating throughout their lives.

Her egg production rises as the colony matures. Depending on the species, a mature queen may lay thousands or even tens of thousands of eggs per day. This enormous reproductive output helps colonies maintain huge populations despite predators, disease, and the short lives of many workers.

The claim is sometimes confused with ants. Some ant queens also live for decades, but termite queens are generally credited with the longest insect lifespans, with reported maximums reaching roughly 30–50 years or more. The exact age is difficult to verify because queens spend their entire lives hidden inside colonies.