Do Ants and Humans Share the Secret to Longevity—Sleep?

Humans and ants actually have a lot in common. They communicate with one another, practice agriculture, divide up work tasks, and build structured societies.

And yes, ants sleep too. When they sleep, they fold their antennae (used for sensing pheromones and information), tuck in their hind legs, and curl up into a tiny ball.

According to a study by the University of South Florida, worker ants take approximately 250 naps per day, each lasting around 1 minute, totaling about 5 hours of sleep daily. In contrast, queen ants sleep about 90 times a day, averaging 6 minutes each nap — for a total of approximately 9.4 hours of sleep per day. Queens, it seems, get significantly more rest than the workers.

Sleep patterns also vary by species.

• The Japanese wood ant, commonly found in Japan, is active during the day and sleeps for approximately 6 to 7 hours at night.

• The leafcutter ant, native to Central and South America, works continuously throughout the day and night, taking 2- to 3-minute naps every 15 minutes.

• The Myrmecina nipponica, found in forests across Japan, reportedly sleeps for up to 20 hours a day!

What’s particularly fascinating is the clear connection between sleep and lifespan.

• The Japanese wood ant lives for 2 to 3 years.

• The leafcutter ant survives for only about 3 months.

• The long-sleeping Myrmecina nipponica can live for 5–6 years.

In other words, the more an ant sleeps, the longer it tends to live.

Looking into the sleep habits of ants has revealed some surprising parallels with human society, and it turned out to be a truly fascinating discovery.