Why do different pions have different lifetimes?

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The discussion clarifies the differing lifetimes of pions, specifically the pi(+) and pi(0). The pi(+) and pi(-) are quark-antiquark pairs composed of one up and one down quark, resulting in a longer lifetime due to their stable composition. In contrast, the pi(0) consists of either two up or two down quarks, leading to rapid annihilation when interacting with matter particles. This fundamental difference in quark composition directly influences the lifetimes of these particles.

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I don't understand why the pi(+) has such a long lifetime compared to the pi(0). Can anyone give me a simple qualitatiive explanation of this?
 
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pi(+) and pi(-) are quark-antiquark pairs, each of which is an up and a down. pi(0) is a quark-antiquark pair consisting of 2 ups or 2 downs. When a matter particle and its anti-matter opposite come together, they anihilate (sp?) each other very rapidly. This explanation is somewhat of an oversimplification, but you can see why the pi(0) has a much shorter lifetime.
 

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