The Drones
The male bee, or
drone, is the result of an unfertilized egg. There are few drones in the hive,
except during the spring and early summer when food sources are plentiful,
colonies are largest, and most mating occurs. The drone's only purpose is to
mate with virgin queen bees. Young drones leave that hive to converge with
others at a drone congregation area, waiting for unmated queens to fly by.
Drones will die in the act of mating. When food sources are in short supply,
the remaining drones are summarily kicked out of the hive to survive on their
own, but cannot fend for themselves, and shortly after die of starvation.Drones can be identified by their overall size and their large eyes, used to sight unmated queens.
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