Reproductive Ageing: Unlocking the secrets of reproductive longevity: the potential of social insects

IN BRIEF: Social insect queens display both extraordinary longevity and fertility. In this point of view, we describe their distinctive traits that make them useful models for reproductive longevity, holding implications for human health discoveries. ABSTRACT: Social insects present an extraordinary opportunity as models for reproductive longevity because they challenge the conventional patterns of aging and reproduction seen in other model organisms. Their queens are simultaneously long-lived and highly fecund, and understanding how these traits co-occur may lead to discoveries with important implications for human health.