Maximum longevity: 8 years Observations: As in other social insects, workers and queens have distinct lifespans in the honey bee. Queens have been reported to live up to 8 years. Workers have a short lifespan due to foraging but can live 0.2-0.4 years if prevented from foraging. In the winter, workers can develop into a stress-resistant form called the "diunitus" and live up to 0.9 years (Haddad et al. 2007).