How long do worker bees live?

• A. 6 weeks (summer) to 6 months (winter)
• B. 2-3 weeks
• C. 1 year
• D. 5 years

Answer: (A)

Worker bees have lifespans that depend on their duties and the season. In summer, many workers spend their days foraging and facing hazards, so their lives are often about six weeks. In winter, the colony clusters and activities slow down, allowing workers to persist for several months, commonly up to around six months. So the overall range for a worker bee is roughly six weeks in summer to about six months in winter. The other options don’t fit: two to three weeks is too short for winter longevity, one year is far longer than a worker typically lives, and five years is well beyond what workers live (queens can live longer, but that’s not applicable to workers).