Britannica Sources used in this answer

How long can termite kings and queens live?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Learn how termites use salivary secretions to cement debris to decaying wood nests in their rainforest habitat — termite A termite nest in a tropical rainforest.

In higher termite families, the primary king and queen can live for 60 to 70 years. While these primary reproductives are responsible for the colony's growth, the colony itself may persist for many additional years if the original pair is replaced by secondary reproductives.1