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(#9) Worker Bees
Average Life Span: 35 Days
The most common bee is the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera, and they can live for around 122 to 152 days. Like ants, they have a highly specialized function within their colonies, so some individuals live far shorter lifespans than others.
A worker bee is aptly named because they literally work themselves to death. That's not hyperbole either; a worker bee will spend their lives flying out to scout or collect nectar and pollen. They can also specialize in water gathering or hive protection, but whatever they end up doing, it will eventually kill them.
After flying for around 500 miles over the course of their lives, their wings are ragged, and they continue doing their given task until it kills them. The average worker bee will only last around a month.
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(#3) Luna Moth
Average Life Span: 7 Days
Luna Moths, Actias luna, are commonly referred to as "Giant Silk Moths," as they are rather large. Typically, their wingspan spreads for around 4.5", but some have been noted reaching as much as 7", which is considerably large for a moth. They are well known for their bright green coloration, making them look distinct from other moths.
Luna Moths begin as eggs, which hatch in about a week. This is followed by a larvae phase that can take anywhere from four to eleven days. The pupae stage will take two weeks within a cocoon, resulting in the adult (Imago) stage, which only lasts for seven days. They are generally only active at night, so their limited lifespan makes them a rare sight.
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(#14) Müller's Giant Sunda Rat
Average Life Span: 180 Days
Small mammals typically live fast and die young, but the one that has the shortest lifespan of them all is Müller's Giant Sunda Rat, Sundamys muelleri, which is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Their name is apt because, while they look like your average rat for the most part, they can reach up to 25.5" from the tip of their tails to their noses. Their lifespans depend greatly on their environment, and while they can live for a little more than a year in captivity, in the wild, they rarely live for longer than six months.
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(#4) Mosquito
- Culicidae
Average Life Span: 7 Days
Mosquitos are probably the most well-known pest species on the planet. Just about everyone hates them, but they don't live for very long, which makes it a small comfort in knowing that when one stings you and gets away. Regardless, they are an essential prey species in every ecosystem they inhabit, as they are widely consumed by predators.
Mosquitos undergo an egg, larva, pupa, and adult stage in their short lives. From start to finish, this can take anywhere from four days to a month, depending on the species. Once they reach adulthood, a mosquito will typically live for a week. Some species have been noted to live for up to three weeks, while others can remain in their adult stage for as long as six months, but it's hardly the average for the 3,000+ species spread around the world.
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(#1) Mayflies
Average Life Span: 5 Minutes
Many species of mayflies are found around the world, and they all live for about 24 hours. Much of that time is spent transitioning through the various stages of maturation, but when it comes time to be an adult mayfly, the clock starts ticking — fast!
An adult female mayfly of the species Dolania americana, which is found in the Southeastern United States, only lives for five minutes. In that time, it has to deposit its eggs for reproduction and die. Males can live for as much as 30 minutes, but like the females, they kick it almost as soon as they emerge.
Of all the animals known to exist, D. americana has the shortest lifespan.
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(#8) Indianmeal Moth
Average Life Span: 28 Days
Indianmeal Moths, Plodia interpunctella, are a pest species spread around the world that were given their name after they were seen to subsist on Indian cornmeal. They are more commonly known as waxworms, though they aren't the same species of waxworm bred for animal feed.
They can bite through plastic and other hard materials, which makes infestation possible in sealed containers. In terms of their life-cycle, on average, an Indianmeal Moth can live for as many as 28 days in ideal conditions. There have been individuals noted for living up to 50 days, but this doesn't happen naturally. In cool climates, their growth can slow, which helps keep them around for a bit longer than usual, but most don't see the end of a month.
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As we all know, there are thousands of species on the planet, and different species have different life spans. People are always keen to seek the secret of longevity and learn about some ancient long-lived creatures, but few people know which creatures on earth with the shortest life expectancy. In fact, many common creatures in daily life have a short life. For example, the life expectancy of houselies is about one month, but they always appear because of their fast reproduction speed.
The random tool lists 15 animals with the shortest life expectancy that you might never know. Welcome to introduce this interesting tool to more friends and search for other hot topics that you are interested in.
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