What is the average lifespan of a queen bee?

The average lifespan of a queen bee typically ranges from 3 to 5 years, making this the correct choice. Queen bees have the longest lifespan among the bees in a hive, primarily due to their role and the specialized care they receive from worker bees. During their lifespan, queens can lay thousands of eggs, ensuring the colony's population remains stable.

While some queens may live longer under optimal conditions, such as a healthy colony and a good environment, the 3 to 5 year range is considered standard within beekeeping practices. Factors such as genetics, environmental conditions, and colony health can influence their longevity, but this lifespan is a well-accepted average in the field of beekeeping.

Other ranges provided in the choices may reflect either extreme cases or misunderstanding of typical queen bee life expectancy, as most queens do not reach those longer ages.