Longevity
Guides
Argas
Bat-ticks
Argas is a genus of soft ticks in the family Argasidae, containing 44 species across two subgenera: Argas and Persicargas. These ticks lack the hard dorsal shield characteristic of hard ticks (Ixodidae) and exhibit distinctive feeding behaviors, taking multiple short blood meals rather than prolonged single feedings. The genus includes species with exceptional longevity—Argas brumpti individuals have survived 27 years in laboratory conditions and endured eight years without feeding. Argas species serve as vectors for tick-borne pathogens including those causing tick-borne relapsing fever.
Argasidae
soft ticks, soft-backed ticks, argasid ticks
Argasidae, commonly known as soft ticks, is one of three extant families of ticks (Ixodida), alongside Ixodidae (hard ticks) and the monotypic Nuttalliellidae. The family contains approximately 220 species in 17 genera, though taxonomic composition remains unresolved due to conflicting morphological and molecular phylogenies. Soft ticks are distinguished from hard ticks by the absence of a hard scutum (dorsal shield), a ventrally positioned gnathosoma (mouthparts-bearing structure) that is not visible from above, and rounded lateral body edges. They exhibit remarkable physiological adaptations including extreme desiccation resistance, longevity (documented up to 27 years in laboratory conditions), and the ability to survive years without feeding. Soft ticks are primarily associated with shelter habitats such as animal burrows, nests, and rock crevices, and are less commonly encountered by humans than hard ticks.
Heliconiinae
longwings, heliconians, fritillaries and longwings
Heliconiinae is a subfamily of brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) comprising 45–50 genera, commonly known as longwings or heliconians. Members are distinguished by elongated forewings and predominantly reddish-black coloration. They are notable among butterflies for actively consuming pollen, which extends adult longevity. The subfamily exhibits complex coevolutionary relationships with Passifloraceae host plants and serves as a classic model for studies of Müllerian and Batesian mimicry.
Heliconius erato
red postman, small postman, red passion flower butterfly, crimson-patched longwing
Heliconius erato is a neotropical butterfly renowned for its exceptional longevity among butterflies, living up to six months in the wild and over 186 days in captivity. This extended lifespan is enabled by its unique ability among butterflies to digest pollen, extracting amino acids through specialized proboscis behavior. The species exhibits Müllerian mimicry with co-occurring Heliconius species, particularly H. melpomene, sharing aposematic warning coloration to deter predators. Adults display remarkable philopatry, maintaining restricted home ranges sometimes separated by only 30 yards from neighboring territories. The species was described by Linnaeus in 1758 and comprises numerous geographically variable subspecies divided into eastern and western Andean clades.
Theraphosidae
tarantulas, bird spiders, birdeaters
Theraphosidae is a family of large, often hairy spiders commonly known as tarantulas. The family comprises approximately 900 described species distributed across tropical, subtropical, and arid regions worldwide. Tarantulas are characterized by their substantial size, with some species reaching leg spans up to 30 cm, and their longevity—females of certain species can live 20 to 30 years. They are primarily nocturnal predators that employ diverse hunting strategies including ambush from burrows, active pursuit, and arboreal hunting. The family exhibits considerable ecological diversity, with species occupying terrestrial burrowing, arboreal, and even cave-dwelling niches.