How Long Do Garden Ants Live For?

The black garden ants (Lasius niger) are the most common type of ants found in gardens and other urban areas across Europe and in some parts of Asia and North America. This type of ant is best known for their nuptial flight, which happens once a year. This is when flying princesses and males take flight and mate. Also known as the pavement ant, these ants build their nests almost anywhere; under rocks, along the lawns, and even under pavements.

The most familiar type of garden ants seen is the small ones that move fast and actively. These are the workers. Among their main tasks are to forage, clean, and feed the larvae. All worker ants are female and live for a few months. Typically, colonies have about 5,000 worker ants but can have as many as 15,000. Each colony has one queen, which has been known to live for up to 29 years (source). The lifespan of Worker ants, on the other hand, stretches from a couple of months and up to a year, depending on the available food source.